Confusion between air carrier flight crew and ARTCC controller about fuel status.

Attributes
ACN	166891
Time
Date	199012
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rbv
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	166891
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	166892
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

While holding going into isp due to low ceiling in isp, we decided to divert to lga and were asked of our fuel status. We told ny ARTCC it was :55 mins, which would take us to our reserve fuel. But apparently this was interpreted as a minimum fuel situation. We never mentioned 'minimum' fuel, 'critical fuel' or emergency of any sort. Only on downwind to lga approximately 30 mins later did I become aware that something was out of the ordinary when we were told that the final was 20 mi long and if we needed less to please let them know. We said that would be ok but wondered why they even asked us that. Upon landing we noticed that the emergency equipment was standing by. We asked them why and they said it was 'port authority policy'. When we blocked in, we had 9000 pounds of fuel, never were we in a critical fuel situation nor was this ever mentioned. Supplemental information from acn 166892. ATC said that if any problems to let them know; asked if we wanted to declare emergency. Told them no!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION BETWEEN ACR FLC AND ARTCC CTLR ABOUT FUEL STATUS.

Narrative: WHILE HOLDING GOING INTO ISP DUE TO LOW CEILING IN ISP, WE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO LGA AND WERE ASKED OF OUR FUEL STATUS. WE TOLD NY ARTCC IT WAS :55 MINS, WHICH WOULD TAKE US TO OUR RESERVE FUEL. BUT APPARENTLY THIS WAS INTERPRETED AS A MINIMUM FUEL SITUATION. WE NEVER MENTIONED 'MINIMUM' FUEL, 'CRITICAL FUEL' OR EMER OF ANY SORT. ONLY ON DOWNWIND TO LGA APPROX 30 MINS LATER DID I BECOME AWARE THAT SOMETHING WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY WHEN WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FINAL WAS 20 MI LONG AND IF WE NEEDED LESS TO PLEASE LET THEM KNOW. WE SAID THAT WOULD BE OK BUT WONDERED WHY THEY EVEN ASKED US THAT. UPON LNDG WE NOTICED THAT THE EMER EQUIP WAS STANDING BY. WE ASKED THEM WHY AND THEY SAID IT WAS 'PORT AUTHORITY POLICY'. WHEN WE BLOCKED IN, WE HAD 9000 LBS OF FUEL, NEVER WERE WE IN A CRITICAL FUEL SITUATION NOR WAS THIS EVER MENTIONED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 166892. ATC SAID THAT IF ANY PROBS TO LET THEM KNOW; ASKED IF WE WANTED TO DECLARE EMER. TOLD THEM NO!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.