Date: 201404
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: PHL.TRACON, PA
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: 3
Light: Night
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight phase: Cruise
ATC / advisory: TRACON PHL
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Weather; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: While in flight; I picked up the ATIS to see that PHL was 400 overcast and 3 miles visibility. Looking at the release; I saw there was no alternate listed. Reviewing the weather prior to departure; we didn't need to have one on file. I brought this to the attention of the Captain. He asked I send an ACARS message to Dispatch. The Dispatcher responded several minutes later with an alternate and release amendment as ABE being our alternate. While enroute; we were being vectored all over. I was looking at the fuel and brought this to the attention of the Captain. He said he put in worst case scenario as the full approach and that our fuel quantities were probably a little more than what the fuel gauges were indicating. I then said we can't fly around being vectored much longer as we are cutting into our alternate fuel. ATC gave us another vector to the east away from the arrival. I once again told my Captain that this was going to eliminate what we had for alternate fuel and he asked to query ATC. I told ATC we are not going to be able to take delaying vectors any longer and that our fuel was getting to the critical stage. ATC then suddenly vectored us back to the west for downwind to Runway 9R. We were told they'll get us in. Our downwind was extended and I once again brought up the issue of fuel to the Captain. At that point; we were being turned in on to the approach. We made the approach and landing and taxied in. On shut down; our fuel gauges were indicating 1;600 or so LBS. We landed well below our reserves and didn't have the fuel to proceed to our alternate. Better crew coordination. I gave my input; but the Captain chose to continue. At first I suggested we consider diverting to our alternate of ABE. I then said that we should declare min fuel. The Captain said only if we get any further delaying vectors. I was only able to give my input and it was up to the Captain to either listen or disregard.


Second narrative: In flight we noticed that Dispatch forgot to list an alternate airport on the release since PHL was IMC; we did have weather and airport data for the alternate. Dispatch was contacted and the release was amended to add ABE as alternate with only 130 LBS of extra fuel. Commencing the BOJID 1 arrival for Runway 9R PHL started to get really busy and ATC gave us delay vectors; we notified ATC of our minimum fuel situation and they turned us downwind for the approach; at this point we reached our minimum diversion fuel level. Being so close to PHL I decided it was operationally safest to continue the approach than divert to ABE. On downwind ATC gave us another short delay vector before we continued the approach and landed uneventful with approximately 1;800 LBS of fuel.


Synopsis: CRJ200 flight crew describes a low fuel situation that develops during arrival and approach to PHL caused by being dispatched without an alternate and ATC delays due to weather. Minimum fuel is declared and the crew lands with 1;800 LBS of fuel.