A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 4752; Flight Crew Type 1950
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Procedure
New policy for IAH TRACON; ALL arrivals are to be treated as IFR (even on clear days) and expect a 30 nm downwind leg prior to turning final. Twice today we got these extended finals. Coming from the west and landing west (eastern downwind leg); not knowing this as a new policy we flew at 3000 ft; 210 KIAS for some 100 +/- extra miles; burning an estimated additional 2500 lbs. of fuel for the endeavor. As a result we were at min fuel for the first landing (not declared as we had been visual of the airport for 30+ mins) and near the same for the second landing (clear skies both events; 1st landing 8-10 nm behind interval and 2nd landing 17 nm behind interval!) This new policy needs to be communicated to crews and dispatchers to fuel plan accordingly!
A319 Captain reported a new TRACON procedure that resulted in increased fuel burn and minimum fuel status on multiple flights.