Narrative:

I continue to have problems in flight planning due to inaccurate zero fuel weight furnished to me. At the time of flight planning; the flight plan shows a zero fuel weight. Depending on the circumstances; I accept the fuel load or add fuel as necessary based on that zero fuel weight. Swings of 7 to 8 thousand pounds zero fuel weight between planning and departure are not unusual. Because of flight planning limitations flying into jfk; I can plan on burning 2 to 4 thousand more pounds than on the flight plan. Consequently; I often add fuel. When the zero fuel weight drops 8 thousand; this additional fuel is unnecessary. Quite frankly; it is embarrassing to arrival with 25000 pounds of fuel in VFR WX. If the zero fuel weight rises 8 thousand and I and dispatch are not notified; I will have to stop for refueling and may suffer FAA disciplinary action for inadequate preflight planning. Some more real time communication must take place if you want to save fuel. According to fuel school; diverting is not a failure. I consider diverting a failure to my passenger. I think centralized load planning is a good idea; but more communication is necessary. I have to add fuel until central load planning can reliably furnish me with an accurate predicted zero fuel weight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A B777 RPTS LARGE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN PLANNED VERSUS ACTUAL ZERO FUEL WT WHICH RESULT IN DIFFICULTIES IN ACCURATELY PLANNING FUEL FOR BEST BALANCE BETWEEN SCHEDULE INTEGRITY AND FUEL EFFICIENCY.

Narrative: I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBS IN FLT PLANNING DUE TO INACCURATE ZERO FUEL WT FURNISHED TO ME. AT THE TIME OF FLT PLANNING; THE FLT PLAN SHOWS A ZERO FUEL WT. DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES; I ACCEPT THE FUEL LOAD OR ADD FUEL AS NECESSARY BASED ON THAT ZERO FUEL WT. SWINGS OF 7 TO 8 THOUSAND LBS ZERO FUEL WT BETWEEN PLANNING AND DEP ARE NOT UNUSUAL. BECAUSE OF FLT PLANNING LIMITATIONS FLYING INTO JFK; I CAN PLAN ON BURNING 2 TO 4 THOUSAND MORE LBS THAN ON THE FLT PLAN. CONSEQUENTLY; I OFTEN ADD FUEL. WHEN THE ZERO FUEL WT DROPS 8 THOUSAND; THIS ADDITIONAL FUEL IS UNNECESSARY. QUITE FRANKLY; IT IS EMBARRASSING TO ARR WITH 25000 LBS OF FUEL IN VFR WX. IF THE ZERO FUEL WT RISES 8 THOUSAND AND I AND DISPATCH ARE NOT NOTIFIED; I WILL HAVE TO STOP FOR REFUELING AND MAY SUFFER FAA DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR INADEQUATE PREFLT PLANNING. SOME MORE REAL TIME COMMUNICATION MUST TAKE PLACE IF YOU WANT TO SAVE FUEL. ACCORDING TO FUEL SCHOOL; DIVERTING IS NOT A FAILURE. I CONSIDER DIVERTING A FAILURE TO MY PAX. I THINK CENTRALIZED LOAD PLANNING IS A GOOD IDEA; BUT MORE COMMUNICATION IS NECESSARY. I HAVE TO ADD FUEL UNTIL CENTRAL LOAD PLANNING CAN RELIABLY FURNISH ME WITH AN ACCURATE PREDICTED ZERO FUEL WT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.