Medium Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 23000
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Weather
During the GIBBZ2 RNAV Arrival into Dulles; approach control called the winds at IAD gusting to 57 knots. Potomac control continued to call the winds at 57 knots at IAD with two additional reports. We had no alternate. I had a conversation with dispatch before leaving about the winds. After talking with dispatch; I was assured that there were no significant weather issues at IAD for our arrival (winds were forecast to gust to 45 knots). I asked dispatch to update us if there were any changes in the IAD weather. Dispatch never advised us on the changing weather at IAD. I exercised my emergency authority and [advised] Potomac and we decided to divert to Richmond; because it was south of the thunderstorm line over IAD and BWI. The decision was made at 7.7 LBS of gas remaining and 29 miles from IAD. We were 80 miles from RIC.We sent an ACARS divert message to dispatch. We never received any NOTAMS or field information for RIC from dispatch. I did not have time to call dispatch; because of the urgency of the divert; last minute change in winds at IAD during the arrival and fuel status. We called RIC on the radio; acquired the ATIS and coordinated the divert. We landed uneventfully at RIC with 5.6 LBS.
Upon arrival into the airport area weather rapidly changed the feasibility of landing at the destination airport. Flight crew diverted to a nearby field with a critical fuel state.