Large transport flight cleared for refuel at cle had plenty fuel approaching rod, reclrd to ewr, des...

Attributes
ACN	187131
Time
Date	199108
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rod airport : ewr
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tower : pdx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	187131
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flight was dispatched from lax to cle, for a fuel stop before continuing to final destination of ewr. If, however, sufficient fuel remained and WX conditions permitted at ewr, flight would redispatch with company before reaching rod VOR. We would need at least 14000 pounds of fuel to continue (without a stop at cle) to ewr. The aircraft had 18000 pounds of fuel at 60 DME west of rod. Company dispatch was contacted, and permission was given to continue non- stop to ewr. We had a company computer flight plan on board, and flight continued to ewr and landed in VFR conditions with legal reserves. We had 9800 pounds of fuel. It was later pointed out that this redispatch procedure is an international or over water to land procedure and not to be used in domestic operations. Being familiar with international procedures, I assumed the same of domestic operations. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: question of legality was referred back to company. It was second hand conversation with another captain that brought up the question. He thought there was something in the company operations manual but we could not find it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT FLT CLRED FOR REFUEL AT CLE HAD PLENTY FUEL APCHING ROD, RECLRD TO EWR, DEST. RPTR QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF RECLRING DOMESTIC OPS.

Narrative: FLT WAS DISPATCHED FROM LAX TO CLE, FOR A FUEL STOP BEFORE CONTINUING TO FINAL DEST OF EWR. IF, HOWEVER, SUFFICIENT FUEL REMAINED AND WX CONDITIONS PERMITTED AT EWR, FLT WOULD REDISPATCH WITH COMPANY BEFORE REACHING ROD VOR. WE WOULD NEED AT LEAST 14000 POUNDS OF FUEL TO CONTINUE (WITHOUT A STOP AT CLE) TO EWR. THE ACFT HAD 18000 POUNDS OF FUEL AT 60 DME W OF ROD. COMPANY DISPATCH WAS CONTACTED, AND PERMISSION WAS GIVEN TO CONTINUE NON- STOP TO EWR. WE HAD A COMPANY COMPUTER FLT PLAN ON BOARD, AND FLT CONTINUED TO EWR AND LANDED IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH LEGAL RESERVES. WE HAD 9800 POUNDS OF FUEL. IT WAS LATER POINTED OUT THAT THIS REDISPATCH PROC IS AN INTL OR OVER WATER TO LAND PROC AND NOT TO BE USED IN DOMESTIC OPS. BEING FAMILIAR WITH INTL PROCS, I ASSUMED THE SAME OF DOMESTIC OPS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: QUESTION OF LEGALITY WAS REFERRED BACK TO COMPANY. IT WAS SECOND HAND CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER CAPT THAT BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION. HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE COMPANY OPS MANUAL BUT WE COULD NOT FIND IT.

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.

Large transport flight cleared for refuel at cle had plenty fuel approaching rod, reclrd to ewr, destination. Reporter questions legality of reclring domestic operations.