Mulligan I don't think being 54 has anything to do with it, most of us have had that last minute tech problem or a go-around where it takes time/fuel to sort out, so being cautious with your fuel overhead is wise. That may not be what the bean counters want, their job is to save money, however ours is to have an efficient but safe operation. When the forcast for destination is good, my comfort factor is usually 60 minutes of fuel after the landing role, where as the accountant is probably comfortably asleep in his bed!
I'm now 59, but when I was much younger I remember a respected old Flight Engineer on a 747 saying that if you looked into the tanks after a minimum fuel landing (30 min), it would look like a couple of buckets sloshing around. That image has always stayed with me!
