ACR WDB WITH UNRELIABLE FUEL GAUGES AND INADEQUATE FUEL LOAD MAKES PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT ALTERNATE ARPT.

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SIGNED FOR FUEL APPROX 70 MINS PRIOR TO DEP. S/O CHKED CIA ON ARR AT ACFT 45 MINS PRIOR TO DEP. AS HE ARRIVED AT ACFT HE WAS GIVEN FUEL SLIP FROM FUELER AND STICK READINGS FROM TANKS 1 & 2. (STICK READINGS MANDATORY FOR FIRST FLT OF DAY.) (TANK 1; STICK 2; READING 1 CM; EQUIVALENT APPROX 16900#; GAUGE READ 17500#; TANK 2; STICK 2; READ 3 CM; EQUIVALENT 17500#; GAUGE READ 17800#.) WORK WAS BEING DONE ON #1 COWLING SO AFTER F/E CHKED LOGBOOK FOR OPEN CIA; LOGBOOK WAS REMOVED FROM ACFT UNTIL SECS BEFORE DEP. IT IS MY CUSTOM TO PERUSE THE LOGBOOK UPON ARR AT ACFT. OBVIOUSLY UNABLE TO THAT MORNING. APPROX 10-15' N OF ILM; NOTED INTERMITTENT LOW PRESSURE #1 BOOST; #1 TANK WENT TO STEADY INOP; CHKED CB; ETCS; TURNED PUMP OFF. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; REMAINING BOOST PUMP #1 TANK SHOWED LOW PRESSURE. ALSO NOTED DECREASING QTY IN TANK 1A WHICH FEEDS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN TANK 1 IS DEPLETED. TANK 1 QTY HAD DECREASED TO 10200# AND HELD AT THAT POINT. FUEL FROM TANK #1 WAS NOT AVAILABLE EXCEPT THROUGH GRAVITY FEED. I CONFERRED WITH DISPATCH AND TECH SVCS AND DIVERTED TO CLT. TANK #1 WAS FOUND TO BE BONE DRY. READING 1 CM ON STICK 2; TANK 1 IS VERY NEAR TO BOTTOMED OUT ON THAT STICK. THAT STICK READING STARTS IN THE 16000-16500# AREA. I SUSPECT THAT IT WAS IN FACT AT ITS LOWER LIMIT; NOT IN FACT READING ANYTHING. STICK 1 IN TANK 1 READS UP TO A MAX IN THE 14000# AREA. I SUGGEST THAT AS A MATTER OF POLICY; WHEN FUEL LOAD IN TANKS 1 & 2 ARE IN LOWER LIMIT AREA OF #2 STICK; THAT #1 STICK IS ALSO CHKED TO ASSURE THAT FUEL IS AT LEAST IN THE 14000# AREA; AS A DOUBLE CHK. THERE IS A 2000# NEVER NEVER LAND BTWN STICKS #1 AND 2 READING CAPABILITY. HAD THE LOGBOOK BEEN ON THE AIRPLANE; I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE NOTED PREVIOUS #1 TANK QTY. WRITEUPS (CLRED) AND BEEN MUCH MORE SUSPICIOUS. NUMEROUS VECTORS AND ROUTE CHANGES TO ILM AREA PRECLUDED THE CONVENIENT PERUSAL OF THE LOGBOOK BY ME; TO THAT POINT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 94511: LANDED AT CLT. THE GAUGE STILL SHOWED 10000# BUT THE TANK WAS EMPTY. IT WAS REFUELED AND AFTER APPROPRIATE ENTRIES IN THE LOGBOOK; THE ACFT WAS RELEASED AND WE PROCEEDED TO MIA.