Large Transport; Low Wing; 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 344
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Weather; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
Other than poor operations; it was normal going to DTW. On approach; due to high winds we got slowed and headings; as did many other aircraft. The winds were now 310/25 gust 39. They were changing the airport around. Many of us asked ATC what runway to expect only to be told; 'We will get back to you.' I asked my First Officer to run performance for all runways with this wind. Finally we were told it would be a west operation. I have never seen DTW in that operation. They seemed slow at making it work. We were told it would be about 15 to 20 minutes before we could go in. I sent a message to Dispatch asking my burn to our alternate. Also; asked my First Officer to get weather for that airport. High winds; about the same as DTW. Dispatch said burn was 1.6. Here we sat with 5.6. If we go now; we get there with MIN fuel. Stated my problem to ATC a couple of times; hoping to move to head of the line. All I got was; 'where you diverting to?' Then told to stand by while we coordinate; and on a heading north. After ATC talked to other flights; they finally came back and put us on a close heading to our alternate; but not direct. Then they came back with a route with a couple of fixes and an arrival. 5.6 minus 1.6 equals 4.0 without all of these fixes and turns. At this point; I did declare MIN fuel. I wanted direct my alternate. I realize we were not yet at MIN fuel; but see above math; which is enough for me. We landed with 4.4; fueled; and went back to DTW.
An unusual west landing operation at DTW resulted in extensive arrival delays; so a Captain requested routing to his alternate which resulted in a near minimum fuel landing.