A319 must declare fuel emergency when unexpected delays are encountered at VMC destination.

Attributes
ACN	777517
Time
Date	200803
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : holding
Route In Use	arrival star : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 5500
ASRS Report	777517
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : turbulence other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fuel gauges other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

We were planned ZZZ-phl with no alternate. The WX was good; arrival was light and we planned to land with 6.2 (approximately 1.1 hours) at phl. We had some turbulence en route and used up some of this and arrived on the arrival with 5.8 planned arrival fuel. We were placed in holding to phl with little room to spare for fuel. We advised dispatch of the problem and designated ZZZ1 as our alternate. We planned to arrive at phl with 4.0 and when we hit bingo fuel we diverted to ZZZ1. ZZZ1 approach then advised phl was open if we wanted. We said with no delays yes we would take it. We went from 20000 ft to 10000 ft and were still 80 south of phl. We declared minimum fuel with the final controller and landed with approximately 3.5 on fuel and no problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 MUST DECLARE FUEL EMERGENCY WHEN UNEXPECTED DELAYS ARE ENCOUNTERED AT VMC DESTINATION.

Narrative: WE WERE PLANNED ZZZ-PHL WITH NO ALTERNATE. THE WX WAS GOOD; ARR WAS LIGHT AND WE PLANNED TO LAND WITH 6.2 (APPROX 1.1 HRS) AT PHL. WE HAD SOME TURB ENRTE AND USED UP SOME OF THIS AND ARRIVED ON THE ARR WITH 5.8 PLANNED ARR FUEL. WE WERE PLACED IN HOLDING TO PHL WITH LITTLE ROOM TO SPARE FOR FUEL. WE ADVISED DISPATCH OF THE PROB AND DESIGNATED ZZZ1 AS OUR ALTERNATE. WE PLANNED TO ARRIVE AT PHL WITH 4.0 AND WHEN WE HIT BINGO FUEL WE DIVERTED TO ZZZ1. ZZZ1 APCH THEN ADVISED PHL WAS OPEN IF WE WANTED. WE SAID WITH NO DELAYS YES WE WOULD TAKE IT. WE WENT FROM 20000 FT TO 10000 FT AND WERE STILL 80 S OF PHL. WE DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL WITH THE FINAL CTLR AND LANDED WITH APPROX 3.5 ON FUEL AND NO PROBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.