Narrative:

For the second time in the past yr I came in to san diego with unforecast low clouds and not enough fuel for an alternate. Nothing happened: we landed safely. But we keep setting ourselves up for an accident or at least a few headlines; and for no good reason at all. Dispatch routinely sends us off with reserve +20 mins; and that means we can't reach ontario or lax without going deep into reserves. The irony is; about 1/2 the time; we ferry fuel into san diego! The prices here are so high it pays to bring gas in. If that's sometimes the case; then surely it costs very; very little to haul extra gas even when the computer doesn't quite calculate a profit it in. The WX had been forecast to be high scattered; 10000 ft or so. But san diego forecasters often get it wrong -- I've lived here 28 yrs; and I know this. The marine cloud layer hovers offshore and sometimes it moves in unexpectedly. When it does; the ceiling can be right down to minimums. In this case; it was 700 ft overcast. When this happens; approach control is scrambling to get everyone in. Downwinds are long; and go around's are not uncommon. We burned an extra 800 pounds just flying the pattern. We landed with 6400 pounds and my best guess is that it would take 3000 pounds to get to ontario.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CAPT IS CONCERNED WITH RESERVE FUEL REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST YR I CAME IN TO SAN DIEGO WITH UNFORECAST LOW CLOUDS AND NOT ENOUGH FUEL FOR AN ALTERNATE. NOTHING HAPPENED: WE LANDED SAFELY. BUT WE KEEP SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR AN ACCIDENT OR AT LEAST A FEW HEADLINES; AND FOR NO GOOD REASON AT ALL. DISPATCH ROUTINELY SENDS US OFF WITH RESERVE +20 MINS; AND THAT MEANS WE CAN'T REACH ONTARIO OR LAX WITHOUT GOING DEEP INTO RESERVES. THE IRONY IS; ABOUT 1/2 THE TIME; WE FERRY FUEL INTO SAN DIEGO! THE PRICES HERE ARE SO HIGH IT PAYS TO BRING GAS IN. IF THAT'S SOMETIMES THE CASE; THEN SURELY IT COSTS VERY; VERY LITTLE TO HAUL EXTRA GAS EVEN WHEN THE COMPUTER DOESN'T QUITE CALCULATE A PROFIT IT IN. THE WX HAD BEEN FORECAST TO BE HIGH SCATTERED; 10000 FT OR SO. BUT SAN DIEGO FORECASTERS OFTEN GET IT WRONG -- I'VE LIVED HERE 28 YRS; AND I KNOW THIS. THE MARINE CLOUD LAYER HOVERS OFFSHORE AND SOMETIMES IT MOVES IN UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN IT DOES; THE CEILING CAN BE RIGHT DOWN TO MINIMUMS. IN THIS CASE; IT WAS 700 FT OVCST. WHEN THIS HAPPENS; APCH CTL IS SCRAMBLING TO GET EVERYONE IN. DOWNWINDS ARE LONG; AND GAR'S ARE NOT UNCOMMON. WE BURNED AN EXTRA 800 LBS JUST FLYING THE PATTERN. WE LANDED WITH 6400 LBS AND MY BEST GUESS IS THAT IT WOULD TAKE 3000 LBS TO GET TO ONTARIO.

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.