Originally Posted by
jrl767
I’m not sure of the exact FAR language, but the flight can’t dispatch unless (at time of beginning the approach?) there will be enough fuel to execute a missed approach, divert to the alternate airport 45 minutes away, and land after a missed approach there
That's what I remember reading as well. I'm sure things are all done with an abundance of caution built in. As in, NOT running things the way a teenager plans for gas stops on a road trip.... rolling into the station on fumes
When we took off from PDX on a totally full flight with (presumably) a full load of fuel, I swear I could just feel the plane struggle to get off the ground more than usual. On lighter loads the planes seem to climb like a rocket. This was just a slow climb.