A widebody transport crew declared a fuel emergency when given holding for an approach to an international destination; due to the lack of available parking. The delay consumed fuel for their distant alternate.

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Attributes
ACN	813595
Time
Date	200812
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzzz.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody Low Wing 4 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 134 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 134
ASRS Report	813595
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	813380
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Airport Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

On approach into ZZZZ; ATC gave us holding instructions due to unavailable parking. As first officer; I asked ATC what the etic was for the departing aircraft and was told 10 mins; expect delay not more than 15 mins. The captain requested alternate delay vectors. Approximately 20 mins later and at 65000 pounds remaining fuel; the captain advised; 'minimum fuel' due to our alternate; had a fuel burn of 38100 pounds. ZZZZ2 was not used as an alternate by dispatch due to unsuitable WX forecast and not having a landing permit. During the delay vectors and after advising minimum fuel; ATC informed us to expect a further 10 min delay. The captain exercised his emergency authority/authorized and requested priority landing clearance. The rest was uneventful. On approach; I heard a departing 'heavy' climbing out. In the future; possible better communications between departing aircraft on ground and command post coordinating arriving and departing 'heavy' traffic due to limited parking.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A WIDEBODY TRANSPORT CREW DECLARED A FUEL EMERGENCY WHEN GIVEN HOLDING FOR AN APPROACH TO AN INTL DEST; DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABLE PARKING. THE DELAY CONSUMED FUEL FOR THEIR DISTANT ALTERNATE.

Narrative: ON APCH INTO ZZZZ; ATC GAVE US HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS DUE TO UNAVAILABLE PARKING. AS FO; I ASKED ATC WHAT THE ETIC WAS FOR THE DEPARTING ACFT AND WAS TOLD 10 MINS; EXPECT DELAY NOT MORE THAN 15 MINS. THE CAPT REQUESTED ALTERNATE DELAY VECTORS. APPROX 20 MINS LATER AND AT 65000 LBS REMAINING FUEL; THE CAPT ADVISED; 'MINIMUM FUEL' DUE TO OUR ALTERNATE; HAD A FUEL BURN OF 38100 LBS. ZZZZ2 WAS NOT USED AS AN ALTERNATE BY DISPATCH DUE TO UNSUITABLE WX FORECAST AND NOT HAVING A LNDG PERMIT. DURING THE DELAY VECTORS AND AFTER ADVISING MINIMUM FUEL; ATC INFORMED US TO EXPECT A FURTHER 10 MIN DELAY. THE CAPT EXERCISED HIS EMER AUTH AND REQUESTED PRIORITY LNDG CLRNC. THE REST WAS UNEVENTFUL. ON APCH; I HEARD A DEPARTING 'HVY' CLBING OUT. IN THE FUTURE; POSSIBLE BETTER COMS BTWN DEPARTING ACFT ON GND AND COMMAND POST COORDINATING ARRIVING AND DEPARTING 'HVY' TFC DUE TO LIMITED PARKING.

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.