2011-06 · NASA ASRS report 956961
Unresolved confusion as to the fuel required between the Captain of an E145 and his Dispatcher resulted in an emergency fuel declaration and a diversion short of the airport of intended landing.
The total fuel planned for the flight was 6377 pounds. The minimum takeoff fuel was 6108 and the planned ramp weight was 35;737 pounds. The release also stated '1 ENGINE INOPERATIVE ENROUTE ALTERNATES NOT REQUIRED FOR RAMP WEIGHT AT OR BELOW 035737 LBS'. The final load planning message stated that the actual ramp weight was 42;371 pounds. As a result I sent a message to dispatch and requested an extra 700 pounds of fuel and an en route alternate. The reply stated that '1 ENGINE INOPERATIVE ENROUTE ALTERNATES NOT REQUIRED FOR RAMP WEIGHT AT OR BELOW 043174 LBS'. As I understood the message; this was the actual planned ramp weight and the other was a misprint. The flight departed with approximately 200 lbs. above min Take Off fuel. The FMC calculated that we would be landing with 1160 pounds of fuel. En route; Mexico Center held us at a lower altitude for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. We requested and received direct routings to minimize fuel burn. Minimum fuel was declared when ATC gave us a delay vector. A decision to declare an emergency was made at approximately 70-80 miles from our destination with approximately 1000 pounds of fuel on board.I believe that this event was due to a misunderstanding between the Captain (myself) and the Dispatcher. I believe that it is imperative for the Captain and Dispatcher to understand the relationship between fuel load and planned ramp weight. The Captain needs to ensure that the Release Fuel is; without any doubt; the proper fuel load for the actual ramp weight.
The Captain then notified dispatch of our weight problem via ACARS. Messages were sent back and forth until the final message from dispatch came with our new numbers; which included assurance that our new ramp weight did not require an en-route alternate and an acknowledgment that dispatch had erred in their initial load entry. Dispatch's ACARS response indicated that we were good to go. ...I looked at the fuel gauges and realized we didn't have an abundance of fuel. The flight progress report predicted our landing fuel would be 1160 pounds. This was more concerning to me so we made conscientious efforts to conserve fuel. Soon our fuel level triggered a master caution. ...Shortly afterwards the Captain declared an emergency and we were assigned direct to destination and normal speed. The Captain and I discussed other landing options and decided to divert to ZZZ.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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