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Lack of alternate fuel for their destination resulted in an A320 flight crew declaring a fuel emergency and diverting to another airport when the destination visibility was reduced below minimums due to a dust storm.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 844163 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200907 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.TRACON |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying First Officer |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue |
Narrative:
Destination weather went below minimums to 1/4 mile in blowing dust. No anticipated improvement in visibility; expected to hold. We arrived with min fuel no alternate filed. Diverted. Declared min fuel. Enroute FMC showed arrival with slightly less than 45 minute reserve so emergency was declared with ATC. Landed with 3;800#'s; gate arrival fuel 3;500#'s. Dust storm was not forecast. No alternate was filed. Due to ATC delays; fuel at the beginning of the approach to our destination had used much of our holding fuel already. No anticipated improvement in visibility was given so we diverted. A320 flight plans are notorious for showing more arrival fuel than actually occurs. Having no alternate fuel left us few options when an event like this occurs. Holding and praying that the visibility improves is not a reasonable option. There should always be a planned alternate landing site.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Lack of alternate fuel for their destination resulted in an A320 flight crew declaring a fuel emergency and diverting to another airport when the destination visibility was reduced below minimums due to a dust storm.
Narrative: Destination weather went below minimums to 1/4 mile in blowing dust. No anticipated improvement in visibility; expected to hold. We arrived with min fuel no alternate filed. Diverted. Declared min fuel. Enroute FMC showed arrival with slightly less than 45 minute reserve so emergency was declared with ATC. Landed with 3;800#'s; gate arrival fuel 3;500#'s. Dust storm was not forecast. No alternate was filed. Due to ATC delays; fuel at the beginning of the approach to our destination had used much of our holding fuel already. No anticipated improvement in visibility was given so we diverted. A320 flight plans are notorious for showing more arrival fuel than actually occurs. Having no alternate fuel left us few options when an event like this occurs. Holding and praying that the visibility improves is not a reasonable option. There should always be a planned alternate landing site.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.