AN ACR ATR72 PLT IS CONCERNED THAT HIS ACR IS TIGHTENING UP ON THE AMOUNT OF RESERVE FUEL THAT HE CARRIES. AIRLINE OPERATIONAL PROC TIGHTEN UP ON FUEL LOAD SO THAT THE ACFT CAN FLY LIGHTER AND THEREFORE SAVE FUEL.

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OUR COMPANY IS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON OUR FLTS TO BARE MINIMUMS. 'IT'S TOO COSTLY TO CARRY EXTRA FUEL' WE ARE TOLD. THERE IS NO ROOM LEFT FOR ERRORS; GARS; UNFORECAST HEADWINDS; EXTRA VECTORING; SEQUENCING; ETC. (NO FLYING LOWER TO AVOID TURB; ANYMORE.) CASE IN POINT: FLT DFW TO OKC ON MAR/THU/97; LEGAL FUEL ALRIGHT; BUT WE LANDED WITH 1300 LBS; RESERVE FUEL WAS 1460 LBS; 160 LBS INTO RESERVE FUEL. TAXI FUEL: 315 LBS; ENRTE BURN: 1163 LBS AND RESERVE FUEL: 1460 LBS FOR A TOTAL FUEL OF 2938 LBS. WE LEFT THE GATE WITH 3000 LBS; TOTALLY LEGAL. AFTER A 30 MIN TAXI AND BURNING 260 LBS; OUR FAA INSPECTOR; DOING A LINE-CHK ON THE JUMP SEAT; STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS. I TOLD HIM: 'ANOTHER 55 LBS OF BURN AND WE ARE TAXIING BACK TO THE GATE.' HE KNEW IT. THIS BEING COST EFFICIENT IS GOING TO HURT SOMEONE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR IS VERY CONCERNED WITH REDUCED FUEL LOADING. APPARENTLY HE HAS BEEN ENJOYING LNDG WITH A SIZEABLE MARGIN OF FUEL OVER HIS FAR MANDATED RESERVE FUEL. HE IS ABLE TO GET MORE FUEL BEFORE DEP IF HE REQUESTS IT. HE SEEMS TO REALIZE THAT RESERVE FUEL IS THERE FOR HIM TO USE. HE IS NOW AWARE OF THE FAA SAFETY HOT-LINE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS CONVERSATION MIGHT BE RECORDED. THE RPTR HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE FAA ON THIS MATTER AND THE FAA INSPECTOR ON THE JUMP SEAT HAD NO CRITICISM.