B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 222; Flight Crew Type 28000
Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Weather
The new Flight Operations Low Fuel policy is unsafe and unwise. October X; 2013 we flew from ZZZ to ZZZ1. We pulled in the gate with 4.0 on the fuel. After an aircraft change; back to ZZZ; and then back to ZZZ1. We pulled into the gate in ZZZ1 with 3.9 total fuel and two low fuel lights. Planning for 5.0 fuel on the deck for any city-pair in the Northeast Corridor or anywhere else is not wise. One go-around; one blown tire; one delay of any kind; and flight crews will be forced to declare emergency Fuel. Is it the policy of the Company to routinely put pilots in the position to declare emergency fuel? We have crews returning to the gate; due to 'slight delays' for takeoff; because they do not have the minimum fuel required. Ruining our on time performance and disrupting the system is the result. A lady asked in XXX; 'Are you taking enough fuel?' 'Why do you ask;' I queried. She said her previous flight to XXX had to go back to the gate (TWICE!) to get more fuel. Should the passengers be worried about having enough fuel? When I called the Duty Chief Pilot about my situation; he recommended calling Dispatch and LOWERING my fuel even more to get airborne in the future! We are already short on fuel and we are asked to depart with even less? This is not wise. We are hurting ourselves trying to save a penny. Trying to save money at the expense of safety is not good policy. After several enroute ACARS exchanges with the Dispatch Supervisor voicing my concern over my pending low fuel situation; his response was; 'Am I missing something?' It must have looked great on paper according to the new policy in XXX. On a beautiful night in the Northeast; with no delays; I will be happy to send you a picture of my fuel remaining after a 'new normal' flight. With all that our pilots have to worry about; lack of fuel should not be one of them. Three hundred pounds taxi fuel is unwise and counterproductive to Company goals; first being safety and second; our ontime performance. Even with everything in our favor; actual flight operations do not reflect what may be the historic norm for a given route leg. Planning for 5.0 fuel on deck can easily become low fuel lights. The captain should not be required to negotiate with Dispatch over a prudent fuel load. The captain's years of training and operational experience; tempered by common sense and good judgment should always be the final arbiter. I will be available anytime to speak to anyone concerning this misguided; ill-advised and potentially dangerous policy.
B737 Captain laments the low fuel reserves routinely mandated by his company.