A320 first officer reports unstabilized approach after captain requests delay in configuring.

Attributes
ACN	703815
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1650
ASRS Report	703815
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Captain indicated that he is intent on saving gas. At 4000 ft on approach; 12 mi from the runway; I slowed from 250 KTS to 210 KTS and asked for flaps 1 degree. The captain informed me that it would be more efficient to not configure till later due to fuel savings. This late slowing and confign led to an unstabilized approach. I; the first officer flying; stated that I was going to execute a go around due the unstabilized condition. The captain said 'no; you can make it.' then told me just to make sure I spool the motors up prior to landing. Knowing this is not a good time to start an argument; and having been an instructor in the F16 and practiced many engine out lndgs; I knew we had the energy to make it and the ability to bleed the excess energy in the allotted runway available without compromising safety. I continued the landing per the captain's orders. The throttle was in idle from outside the marker. The landing concerns me less than the captain's understanding and application of the SOP's and his willingness to subvert procedure to save the company a few dollars in fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FO RPTS UNSTABILIZED APCH AFTER CAPT REQUESTS DELAY IN CONFIGURING.

Narrative: CAPT INDICATED THAT HE IS INTENT ON SAVING GAS. AT 4000 FT ON APCH; 12 MI FROM THE RWY; I SLOWED FROM 250 KTS TO 210 KTS AND ASKED FOR FLAPS 1 DEG. THE CAPT INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT TO NOT CONFIGURE TILL LATER DUE TO FUEL SAVINGS. THIS LATE SLOWING AND CONFIGN LED TO AN UNSTABILIZED APCH. I; THE FO FLYING; STATED THAT I WAS GOING TO EXECUTE A GAR DUE THE UNSTABILIZED CONDITION. THE CAPT SAID 'NO; YOU CAN MAKE IT.' THEN TOLD ME JUST TO MAKE SURE I SPOOL THE MOTORS UP PRIOR TO LNDG. KNOWING THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO START AN ARGUMENT; AND HAVING BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR IN THE F16 AND PRACTICED MANY ENG OUT LNDGS; I KNEW WE HAD THE ENERGY TO MAKE IT AND THE ABILITY TO BLEED THE EXCESS ENERGY IN THE ALLOTTED RWY AVAILABLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING SAFETY. I CONTINUED THE LNDG PER THE CAPT'S ORDERS. THE THROTTLE WAS IN IDLE FROM OUTSIDE THE MARKER. THE LNDG CONCERNS ME LESS THAN THE CAPT'S UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF THE SOP'S AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO SUBVERT PROC TO SAVE THE COMPANY A FEW DOLLARS IN FUEL.

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.