B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155; Flight Crew Type 15000
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Weather
We had to hold because of unplanned weather in PHX. We immediately started to figure out our options. Almost immediately we got a text from Dispatch concerning using ZZZ as an alternate including fuel. Later they told us the fuel estimate was wrong. As we progressed toward PHX; we held at several points along the way. That is when we started to get texts from Dispatch about every 30 seconds. Almost all were not accurate or not needed. I believe sending encouraging texts concerning optimistic outlooks concerning the conditions at PHX helped lead me down a path that my FO helped me get out of when she insisted we divert when fuel started to get low. I credit my FO for helping get us to TUS before fuel got critical.I feel the texts from Dispatch were distracting and contained inaccurate information concerning fuel estimates and field conditions. A simple estimate of options to alternates and fuel needed would have been useful. Too bad they were overpowered by the deluge of unnecessary texts from Dispatch that were distracting at a time when we needed a little information and time to discuss and think. I need to be less concerned about getting the mission accomplished and more concerned about safety and low fuel situations. I'm glad I listened to my FO. I think our training helped me listen and react to my FO's concerns. I also need to know when to tune out distractions such as too many texts from Dispatch.
[We operated the flight] to PHX. Weather was such that no alternate was required. Once on the arrival; we were informed by Dispatch that a dust storm had moved over the PHX airport with gust to over 50 and to expect holding. As time and the flight progressed; and we were cleared out of initial holding fix; we were given a second holding further on the arrival. We elected to divert to TUS. Unknown to us; there was some significant weather between the PHX and TUS airport; which resulted in considerable deviations. Minimum fuel was declared with TUS Approach. Landing and remainder of flight was uneventful. Fuel calculations and fuel burns were initially off; as we received inaccurate Dispatch fuel burns through ACARS from fixes that were not related to our position.
B737 flight crew reported diverting to an alternate when high winds and a dust storm affected their destination.