Dispatcher questions a decision made by his supervisor; to have an MD80 with a reported fuel leak re...

Narrative:

Flight called dispatch to report fuel leak possibly from fuel panel in right wing. [There was a] slight increase in flow on gages after 80 minutes in flight. Dispatch gave pilots go ahead toward destination but if any increase in fuel loss stop at nearest airport. Gave weather update terminated patch. Dispatcher gave management briefing and maintenance heads up needed even if fuel leak quit; to have it looked at. Management requested dispatcher turn the aircraft around back to departure airport if pilot comfortable; or stop enroute at company station. Trusted manager has been in the industry for 43 years; my boss. Five minutes later my boss walked toward my desk and asked if I had called the plane. So I called the plane got position and fuel; gave pilot burn back to departure airport or stop enroute if not comfortable; pilots comfortable returning. I gave pilot weather for enroute airport in case fuel loss increased. Flight returned with more total flight time than if they had continued to destination. My boss should not request changes to safe course of action.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Dispatcher questions a decision made by his Supervisor; to have an MD80 with a reported fuel leak return to departure airport. Total flight time ended up being more than originally planned to destination.

Narrative: Flight called Dispatch to report fuel leak possibly from fuel panel in right wing. [There was a] slight increase in flow on gages after 80 minutes in flight. Dispatch gave pilots go ahead toward destination but if any increase in fuel loss stop at nearest airport. Gave weather update terminated patch. Dispatcher gave management briefing and Maintenance heads up needed even if fuel leak quit; to have it looked at. Management requested Dispatcher turn the aircraft around back to departure airport if pilot comfortable; or stop enroute at company station. Trusted manager has been in the industry for 43 years; my boss. Five minutes later my boss walked toward my desk and asked if I had called the plane. So I called the plane got position and fuel; gave pilot burn back to departure airport or stop enroute if not comfortable; pilots comfortable returning. I gave pilot weather for enroute airport in case fuel loss increased. Flight returned with more total flight time than if they had continued to destination. My boss should not request changes to safe course of action.

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.

Attributes
ACN	923408
Time
Date	201012
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-83
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Line Fittings & Connectors
Person 1
Function	Dispatcher
Qualification	Dispatch Dispatcher
Experience	Dispatch Dispatch 10
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown

Dispatcher questions a decision made by his supervisor; to have an MD80 with a reported fuel leak return to departure airport. Total flight time ended up being more than originally planned to destination.