FLC REQUESTED PRIORITY HANDLING DUE TO MINIMUM FUEL. RPTR DISPATCHER SAYS THE PRIORITY REQUEST WAS UNNECESSARY BECAUSE ACFT HAD ADEQUATE FUEL AND DISPATCHER EMPHASIZES THE NECESSITY FOR FLCS TO COORDINATE WITH DISPATCH WHEN MAKING SUCH DECISIONS.

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ACR FLT ON JUN/MON/96 OPERATED FROM GWO TO HOU. FLT NORMALLY OPERATES FROM MEM TO HOU; BUT HAD MADE AN EMER LNDG AT GWO DUE TO ELECTRICAL SMOKE IN THE CABIN. DUE TO DIFFICULTY OBTAINING FUEL AT GWO; IT WAS DESIRABLE TO DISPATCH FLT OUT OF GWO WITH FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT. BASED ON CURRENT WX RPTS AND FORECAST FOR HOU; FLT WAS DISPATCHED TO HOU WITH 12200 LBS OF FUEL. BURN 6800 LBS; RESERVE 3900 LBS; CONTINGENCY FUEL 1300 LBS; TAXI 200 LBS. NO ALTERNATE REQUIRED. DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF TSTMS DEVELOPING HOUSTON AREA; FLT DISPATCHER AND CAPT DISCUSSED CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR POSSIBLE FUEL STOP ENRTE. DURING FLT; CAPT AND DISPATCHER DISCUSSED ACTUAL TSTM BUILDING W OF ARPT AT HOU. THE LAST DISCUSSION (APPROX 20 MINS PRIOR TO ARR AT HOU) INCLUDED CONFIRMATION THAT FLT WOULD PROCEED DIRECTLY TO IAH IF ANY DELAYS WERE ENCOUNTERED FROM THAT POINT ON AND NOTIFY FLT DISPATCH IMMEDIATELY. APPROX 5 MINS LATER; FAA PERSONNEL AT HOU CONTACTED FLT DISPATCHER TO DISCUSS FLT AND CAPT'S REQUEST FOR PRIORITY HANDLING DUE TO MINIMUM FUEL. I BELIEVE CAPT'S REQUEST FOR PRIORITY HANDLING UNNECESSARY DUE TO GOOD CONTINGENCY PLAN AND FUEL ADEQUATE TO REACH IAH PRIOR TO EMER SIT. IT APPEARS CAPT MADE DECISION TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY; DISREGARDING THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY WITH FLT DISPATCHER. SUGGEST ACR STRESS PROPER USE OF EMER AUTH AND APPROPRIATE COORD WITH FLT DISPATCH DURING PLT TRAINING SESSIONS.