A widebody transport crew declared a fuel emergency when given holding for an approach to an international destination due to the lack of available parking, as the delay consumed fuel for their distant alternate.
Synopsis
A widebody transport crew declared a fuel emergency when given holding for an approach to an international destination due to the lack of available parking, as the delay consumed fuel for their distant alternate.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
On approach into ZZZZ, ATC gave us holding instructions due to unavailable parking. As first officer, I asked ATC what the estimated time in controller was for the departing aircraft and was told 10 minutes, expect delay not more than 15 minutes. The captain requested alternate delay vectors.
Approximately 20 minutes later and at 65000 lbs remaining fuel, the captain advised, 'minimum fuel' due to our alternate had a fuel burn of 38100 lbs. ZZZZ2 was not used as an alternate by dispatch due to unsuitable weather forecast and not having a landing permit.
During the delay vectors and after advising minimum fuel, ATC informed us to expect a further 10 minute delay. The captain exercised his emergency authority and requested priority landing clearance. The rest was uneventful.
On approach, I heard a departing 'heavy' climbing out. In the future, possible better communications between departing aircraft on ground and command post coordinating arriving and departing 'heavy' traffic due to limited parking.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
ON APCH INTO ZZZZ; ATC GAVE US HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS DUE TO UNAVAILABLE PARKING. AS FO; I ASKED ATC WHAT THE ETIC WAS FOR THE DEPARTING ACFT AND WAS TOLD 10 MINS; EXPECT DELAY NOT MORE THAN 15 MINS. THE CAPT REQUESTED ALTERNATE DELAY VECTORS. APPROX 20 MINS LATER AND AT 65000 LBS REMAINING FUEL; THE CAPT ADVISED; 'MINIMUM FUEL' DUE TO OUR ALTERNATE; HAD A FUEL BURN OF 38100 LBS. ZZZZ2 WAS NOT USED AS AN ALTERNATE BY DISPATCH DUE TO UNSUITABLE WX FORECAST AND NOT HAVING A LNDG PERMIT. DURING THE DELAY VECTORS AND AFTER ADVISING MINIMUM FUEL; ATC INFORMED US TO EXPECT A FURTHER 10 MIN DELAY. THE CAPT EXERCISED HIS EMER AUTH AND REQUESTED PRIORITY LNDG CLRNC. THE REST WAS UNEVENTFUL. ON APCH; I HEARD A DEPARTING 'HVY' CLBING OUT. IN THE FUTURE; POSSIBLE BETTER COMS BTWN DEPARTING ACFT ON GND AND COMMAND POST COORDINATING ARRIVING AND DEPARTING 'HVY' TFC DUE TO LIMITED PARKING.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.