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An A320 pilot reports declaring min fuel on a transcontinental flight after being dispatched into inaccurately forecast winds. A fuel stop is suggested.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 764718 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200712 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zlc.artcc |
| State Reference | UT |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zlc.artcc tower : zzz.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| ASRS Report | 764718 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company Weather |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
Declared minimum fuel after a toga takeoff with APU bleed. On flight plan fuel was averaging 800 pounds over calculated burn on release for most of the flight. This was going to put us at destination 300 pounds above reserve fuel. Dispatch was notified and he checked on any delays and weather conditions; every thing was ok; expect no delays. The winds were forecast to decrease west of publication; but that did not happen. The winds stayed the same; which was 20 KTS above forecast; reducing our fuel closer to reserve. Declared minimum fuel with ATC and received some direct clrncs. During winter operations with strong winds and long legs; plan a fuel stop; and then re-release if fuel is okay. Plan a fuel stop if you can't flight plan with an alternate; or 30 min holding fuel.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN A320 PLT RPTS DECLARING MIN FUEL ON A TRANSCONTINENTAL FLT AFTER BEING DISPATCHED INTO INACCURATELY FORECAST WINDS. A FUEL STOP IS SUGGESTED.
Narrative: DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL AFTER A TOGA TAKEOFF WITH APU BLEED. ON FLT PLAN FUEL WAS AVERAGING 800 LBS OVER CALCULATED BURN ON RELEASE FOR MOST OF THE FLT. THIS WAS GOING TO PUT US AT DEST 300 LBS ABOVE RESERVE FUEL. DISPATCH WAS NOTIFIED AND HE CHKED ON ANY DELAYS AND WEATHER CONDITIONS; EVERY THING WAS OK; EXPECT NO DELAYS. THE WINDS WERE FORECAST TO DECREASE W OF PUB; BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. THE WINDS STAYED THE SAME; WHICH WAS 20 KTS ABOVE FORECAST; REDUCING OUR FUEL CLOSER TO RESERVE. DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL WITH ATC AND RECEIVED SOME DIRECT CLRNCS. DURING WINTER OPS WITH STRONG WINDS AND LONG LEGS; PLAN A FUEL STOP; AND THEN RE-RELEASE IF FUEL IS OKAY. PLAN A FUEL STOP IF YOU CAN'T FLT PLAN WITH AN ALTERNATE; OR 30 MIN HOLDING FUEL.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.