ACR DEPARTS FOR DEST ARPT WITHOUT FUEL REQUIRED AS REFLECTED IN THE DISPATCH RELEASE PAPERS.

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AS PROLOGUE; THE CAPT INVOLVED; AND I; HAD BEEN FLYING TOGETHER REPEATEDLY IN RECENT WKS. WE HAD OFTEN DISCUSSED OUR MUTUAL PREFERENCE FOR MINIMUM DISPATCH FUEL; WHEN PRUDENT ON HOT DAYS; FOR PERFORMANCE REASONS. OUR COMPANY ENCOURAGES US TO TANKER FUEL TO SAVE FUEL COSTS. ON AUG/XX/96; I WAS SO ABOARD FLT XX LGA-BOS. FOLLOWING MY PREFLT INSPECTION; I NOTICED WE HAD BEEN FUELED TO 21000 LBS WHICH IS A VERY COMMON MINIMUM FUEL FIGURE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS (IE; HOT; HAZY; NO TSTMS PRESENT OR FORECAST). THE CAPT ENTERED THE COCKPIT SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND; I BELIEVE; ACKNOWLEDGED OUR QTY OF FUEL ON BOARD ALONG WITH A CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH THE DISPATCHER REQUESTING A LOWER MINIMUM FUEL. (AS A SIDE NOTE; HE LATER STATED THAT THE DISPATCHER WAS ENDING HIS SHIFT AND HAD EXPRESSED EAGERNESS TO GO HOME.) WE COMPLETED THE CHKLIST WHICH INCLUDED ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS ACKNOWLEDGING OUR FUEL ON BOARD AS BEING 21000 LBS. AT THIS POINT; I INCORRECTLY ASSUMED THAT THE RELEASE STATED A MINIMUM OF NO LESS THAN 21000 LBS. I CHKED THE WX AGAIN AND THE FUEL BURN BUT NOT THE ACTUAL RELEASE. DURING DSCNT INTO BOS; WE HELD BRIEFLY (10-15 MINS) AT PVD AND THEN BEGAN VECTORS TO THE ILS RWY 4R AT BOS. I ADVISED THE CREW THAT THE ATIS WARNED OF 'WINDSHEAR AND MICROBURST ADVISORIES IN EFFECT.' THE CAPT THEN QUERIED APCH CTL ABOUT THESE ADVISORIES. WE WERE ADVISED OF A TSTM ON THE RWY 4L FINAL APCH COURSE WITH PIREPS OF AIRSPD FLUCTUATIONS PLUS OR MINUS 20 KTS. WE REQUESTED DELAYING VECTORS TO COORDINATE WITH OUR DISPATCHERS. AT THIS POINT; OUR FUEL WAS APPROX 13500 LBS AND; AFTER CONSULTATION; WE DIVERTED TO PVD; LANDED WITH 12000 LBS; REFUELED AND RETURNED TO BOS UNEVENTFULLY. UPON ARR IN BOS; OUR BASE CHIEF PLT ADVISED US; IN A DEBRIEFING; THAT OUR MINIMUM DISPATCH FUEL FROM LGA WAS 22200 LBS AND NO AMENDED RELEASE HAD EVER BEEN GENERATED OR SIGNED TO PERMIT DEP WITH 21000 LBS. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THIS INCIDENT; I WOULD RECOMMEND REVISING OUR OPERATING MANUAL TO REQUIRE ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS TO READ THE RELEASE (OR ITS AMENDMENT) AND RESPOND DURING THE CHKLIST AS FOLLOWS: 1) CHALLENGE FUEL; AND 2) RESPONSE: QTY ON BOARD; MINIMUM RELEASE QTY.