Narrative:

Departed for ZZZ with dispatch release prediction for FOD (fuel over destination) of 18;781 and VMC conditions with light winds from the south at ZZZ. No alternate was filed or required under domestic operations. During contact with ATC; I became aware of upcoming off route vectoring for spacing so the aircraft was slowed to mach .80 for fuel conservation. Vectoring south of our assigned STAR course during descent was minimal. When cleared below 10;000 ft approach assigned a speed of 210 KIAS. During south vectoring west of the airport; approach assigned a speed of 190 KIAS. I advised them that slowing and configuring at that point; still southbound abeam ZZZ; would result in a minimum fuel declaration and I requested a speed of 210 for the time being. This was approved until turning back north at which time we were assigned 190 KIAS. With slats extended; the FMS computed efob (estimated fuel on board) prediction for approach and land runway 18R was 14;600 pounds; so minimum fuel was declared and acknowledged by ATC. Approach vectored a left turn from about 350 to 020. I believe we queried to ensure they had copied the minimum fuel call. After roll out on heading a hand off to another controller occurred and another aircraft declared minimum fuel. When the controller queried if any others were minimum fuel; we confirmed that we were. Approach assigned a speed of 160 KIAS and a base turn and descent to follow a B777 on visual approach. At this point distance to the field was about 30 miles and FMS computed efob for landing dropped to 11;000 pounds and emergency fuel was declared. Once flaps were extended to 15 to comply with the speed restriction; the efob prediction dropped to about 10;000 pounds and fuel alerts for 'tank 1 forward pumps off' occurred. Checking individual tanks' fuel revealed 2;800//5;000//3;800 with no balancing occurring due to configuration. Approach queried whether an acceleration was desired and I advised that would be preferable; but not if the aircraft in front was fuel critical. The B777 ahead was broken out to the right and approach gave us speed our discretion. Aircraft was accelerated to 230 KIAS and clean configuration to allow fuel balancing to occur and reduce consumption (resultant FMS computed efob for landing increased back to 11;000). Aircraft was slowed and configured about five miles prior to glide slope intercept and further approach and landing was uneventful.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier declared minimum fuel as it neared its destination; followed closely with an emergency fuel declaration.

Narrative: Departed for ZZZ with dispatch release prediction for FOD (Fuel Over Destination) of 18;781 and VMC conditions with light winds from the south at ZZZ. No alternate was filed or required under Domestic Operations. During contact with ATC; I became aware of upcoming off route vectoring for spacing so the aircraft was slowed to Mach .80 for fuel conservation. Vectoring south of our assigned STAR course during descent was minimal. When cleared below 10;000 FT Approach assigned a speed of 210 KIAS. During south vectoring west of the airport; Approach assigned a speed of 190 KIAS. I advised them that slowing and configuring at that point; still southbound abeam ZZZ; would result in a minimum fuel declaration and I requested a speed of 210 for the time being. This was approved until turning back north at which time we were assigned 190 KIAS. With slats extended; the FMS computed EFOB (Estimated Fuel On Board) prediction for approach and land Runway 18R was 14;600 LBS; so minimum fuel was declared and acknowledged by ATC. Approach vectored a left turn from about 350 to 020. I believe we queried to ensure they had copied the minimum fuel call. After roll out on heading a hand off to another Controller occurred and another aircraft declared minimum fuel. When the Controller queried if any others were minimum fuel; we confirmed that we were. Approach assigned a speed of 160 KIAS and a base turn and descent to follow a B777 on visual approach. At this point distance to the field was about 30 miles and FMS computed EFOB for landing dropped to 11;000 LBS and emergency fuel was declared. Once flaps were extended to 15 to comply with the speed restriction; the EFOB prediction dropped to about 10;000 LBS and fuel alerts for 'Tank 1 Forward Pumps Off' occurred. Checking individual tanks' fuel revealed 2;800//5;000//3;800 with no balancing occurring due to configuration. Approach queried whether an acceleration was desired and I advised that would be preferable; but not if the aircraft in front was fuel critical. The B777 ahead was broken out to the right and Approach gave us speed our discretion. Aircraft was accelerated to 230 KIAS and clean configuration to allow fuel balancing to occur and reduce consumption (resultant FMS computed EFOB for landing increased back to 11;000). Aircraft was slowed and configured about five miles prior to glide slope intercept and further approach and landing was uneventful.

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.