A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 177; Flight Crew Total 9023; Flight Crew Type 5054
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Prior to departure as we completed the before start checklist; noticed the fuel value (23K) on the Fuel Service Form (FSF) was 1;000 less than on the most current release 1 (24K) for our planned gate. ACARS sent to Dispatch to confirm we were still on release 1. Response back was yes; and he did not lower our fuel or trim ferry fuel. After calling to speak with Load Planning (LP) supervisor I discovered LP did lower the fuel based on preventing bumping bags or people. Concern is that LP adjusted the amount of ferry fuel without coordinating with Captain or Dispatcher. Although I realize LP has the authority to lower Ferry fuel; I believe they reduced it more than permissible by reducing it to 21;800 + 437 for taxi = 22;237 planned gate. Substantially lower than the 24.0 that the Dispatch and I agreed on. According to FOM; LP cannot reduce Ferry below 75 minutes endurance. They effectively trimmed our ferry by 1;763 LBS which was substantially more than the 12 minutes they are permitted. We did coordinate with Dispatch before takeoff to ensure we had a correct release.
A320 Captain reported discovering during the Before Start Checklist that the fuel load was 1;000 pounds less than their release. Research revealed that Load Planning made the change on their own to accommodate more passengers and cargo.