Narrative:

This was the second time this specific issue occurred in 2 days. Flight was dispatched to sdf with 3;000 lbs minimum gas; 3;400 lbs ramp gas and a planned burn of 400 lbs. I was shocked to see on paper that the dispatcher was planning on us departing at minimum fuel number. On both occasions; upon takeoff; we received a 'check reserve fuel' message on our FMS. On both occasions; everything had to go exactly according to plan for us to not land in our reserve fuel. When I called and challenged our dispatcher; she stated that this was a new policy that the company was pushing to show no gas in tanker section or hold gas. I was told that this would allow us to carry more passengers. At this point we were already boarded to almost maximum capacity and additional fuel would definitely include bumping some passengers off the airplane. I agreed to ramp fuel but was surprised to learn of this risky decision without any notification or warning. The dispatcher authorized me to take more gas; but she certainly wasn't planning on me taking it. On both occasions; we landed with about 100 lbs over reserve fuel and like I mentioned before; we had shortcuts; no lines and almost no taxi times to get there. On this particular flight; there was no alternate required per the taf but upon getting ATIS the weather required an alternate. I realize that these numbers are for planning purposes only and that using one's reserve fuel is not an emergency; however; I feel that planning the numbers with zero excess gas in the tanker or hold categories is begging for an accident. If the dispatch department insists on this route; the least they could do is inform us as to why.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E170 Captain is concerned that the company dispatched his flight twice with minimum fuel loads when prudence suggested more. Adding fuel above that aboard the aircraft was made difficult by requiring the removal of payload to accommodate it.

Narrative: This was the second time this specific issue occurred in 2 days. Flight was dispatched to SDF with 3;000 lbs minimum gas; 3;400 lbs ramp gas and a planned burn of 400 lbs. I was shocked to see on paper that the Dispatcher was planning on us departing at minimum fuel number. On both occasions; upon takeoff; we received a 'check reserve fuel' message on our FMS. On both occasions; everything had to go exactly according to plan for us to not land in our reserve fuel. When I called and challenged our Dispatcher; she stated that this was a new policy that the company was pushing to show no gas in tanker section or hold gas. I was told that this would allow us to carry more passengers. At this point we were already boarded to almost maximum capacity and additional fuel would definitely include bumping some passengers off the airplane. I agreed to ramp fuel but was surprised to learn of this risky decision without any notification or warning. The Dispatcher authorized me to take more gas; but she certainly wasn't planning on me taking it. On both occasions; we landed with about 100 lbs over reserve fuel and like I mentioned before; we had shortcuts; no lines and almost no taxi times to get there. On this particular flight; there was no alternate required per the TAF but upon getting ATIS the weather required an alternate. I realize that these numbers are for planning purposes only and that using one's reserve fuel is not an emergency; however; I feel that planning the numbers with zero excess gas in the tanker or hold categories is BEGGING for an accident. If the Dispatch Department insists on this route; the least they could do is inform us as to why.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.