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VFR REGULATIONS 10 / LEARN · EXPLORE · CHECK

Fuel requirements

Reserve fuel is protection, not planned holding time.

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Your learning goals

  • Apply destination plus a reserve.
  • Recognize the limits and exceptions that affect this flight.
  • Explain a decision using the scenario and supporting rule.

Destination plus a reserve

Before beginning a VFR airplane flight, considering wind and forecast weather, carry enough fuel to reach the first intended landing point and then fly at normal cruising speed for at least 30 minutes by day or 45 minutes at night. These are airplane values.

14 CFR §91.151

Convert time into usable fuel

At 8 gallons per hour, the reserve alone is 4 gallons by day or 6 gallons at night. Add the fuel actually needed for start, taxi, takeoff, climb, route, and descent using aircraft data. Usable fuel is not total tank capacity.

14 CFR §91.151

Leave more than the legal minimum

Add margin for forecast error, vectors, a go-around, and a diversion. Set a fuel decision point before departure. A stronger headwind changes time and fuel; the original planned reserve is not guaranteed to remain. The calculator isolates cruise and reserve arithmetic, not a complete dispatch calculation.

14 CFR §91.151

EXPLORE / APPLY THE RULE

Convert reserve time to fuel

Use the written rule and worked scenario to reason through the example.

Constant-burn teaching example. Add actual start/taxi, takeoff, climb, descent, wind/weather effects, and extra margin. This subtotal is not a complete flight fuel requirement.

FLIGHT SCENARIO

What would change your plan?

Expected trip fuel is 16 gallons and normal cruise uses 8 GPH. At night, is 20 usable gallons enough to begin?

  1. NoticeWhat does this situation require?
  2. VerifyWhat evidence is still missing?
  3. DecideWhat keeps an option open?
Compare your reasoning

No. The 45-minute reserve is 6 gallons, making 22 gallons before adding any omitted ground/climb fuel and practical margin.

SUMMARY

Reserve fuel is protection, not planned holding time.

No. The 45-minute reserve is 6 gallons, making 22 gallons before adding any omitted ground/climb fuel and practical margin.

Before moving on, explain the decision in your own words: what would you verify, and what would make you change the plan?

PRACTICE

Flashcards and knowledge check

Six flashcards, then five questions with explanations.

Enable JavaScript for flashcards and the knowledge check. The lesson and scenario remain available without it.

Sources & lesson notes

Sources & lesson notes

  1. 14 CFR §91.151Verified against eCFR text current through September 15, 2026.

For U.S. private-pilot airplane study. Rules verified against eCFR text current through September 15, 2026, with linked FAA guidance. Scenarios isolate a rule; actual flight decisions require all applicable rules, aircraft limitations, and current information.