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An B757-200 air carrier captain reported encountering some resistance from the dispatcher when he requested a fuel load increase.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 803516 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200806 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : preflight ground : maintenance |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 803516 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Dispatcher questioned my addition of fuel. I went through my process; which I did not feel I had to do; but I was polite -- I add the burn; the far; and the alternate fuel to come up with what I actually need; then subtract it from the cleared fuel. Air carrier plans for a B757 landing with 2.6 almost 100% of the time. When fuel rose in price; they began making it 1.6; which was the case on this flight. While other pilots may feel comfortable with this; I am not. I add enough fuel that when I use every bit of available fuel required; then I will still land in a stress-free environment putting my passenger in no harm's way. The dispatcher; after my explanation; said 'fine' and hung up the phone. This is not the kind of behavior that our professional dispatchers should be engaging in with concern to fuel additions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN B757-200 ACR CAPT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING SOME RESISTANCE FROM THE DISPATCHER WHEN HE REQUESTED A FUEL LOAD INCREASE.
Narrative: DISPATCHER QUESTIONED MY ADDITION OF FUEL. I WENT THROUGH MY PROCESS; WHICH I DID NOT FEEL I HAD TO DO; BUT I WAS POLITE -- I ADD THE BURN; THE FAR; AND THE ALTERNATE FUEL TO COME UP WITH WHAT I ACTUALLY NEED; THEN SUBTRACT IT FROM THE CLRED FUEL. ACR PLANS FOR A B757 LNDG WITH 2.6 ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME. WHEN FUEL ROSE IN PRICE; THEY BEGAN MAKING IT 1.6; WHICH WAS THE CASE ON THIS FLT. WHILE OTHER PLTS MAY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS; I AM NOT. I ADD ENOUGH FUEL THAT WHEN I USE EVERY BIT OF AVAILABLE FUEL REQUIRED; THEN I WILL STILL LAND IN A STRESS-FREE ENVIRONMENT PUTTING MY PAX IN NO HARM'S WAY. THE DISPATCHER; AFTER MY EXPLANATION; SAID 'FINE' AND HUNG UP THE PHONE. THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR THAT OUR PROFESSIONAL DISPATCHERS SHOULD BE ENGAGING IN WITH CONCERN TO FUEL ADDITIONS.
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.