EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency
Weather
On our release briefing we briefed the weather in our destination and the fact no alternate was required. However; Dispatch included an alternate due to the chance of storms in the area. Weather in our destination was VFR. En route to our destination we got rerouted. We sent Dispatch the new route. We received new numbers from Dispatch verifying we had enough fuel on board. At all times we were closely monitoring our fuel and the weather into our destination. After reaching our final fix on the re-route; ATC began to give us vectors away from the field. We asked ATC if we would be getting turned toward our destination soon and they said no. At this time I made the decision to divert to our alternate. We had around 3;300 LBS of fuel. We declared minimum fuel. We coordinated with Dispatch the entire time of our intentions and fuel numbers. Around 2;300 LBS of fuel we declared a fuel emergency. Our alternate was an uncontrolled field at the time and another aircraft was ahead of us. By declaring an emergency we were ensured of not being slowed or put in a hold due to the proceeding aircraft. We landed with 1;800 LBS of fuel.
An EMB170 was dispatched to their destination with an alternate although none was required at the arrival time. A reroute by ATC and thunderstorms in the arrival area resulted in the decision to divert and declare minimum fuel. Enroute a fuel emergency was declared to prevent delays into the uncontrolled alternate. Aircraft lands with 1;800 LBS of fuel.