As Broomstick above, fuel planning can be as intricate or simplified as you like. For me the A to B flight is calculate something like the following:
- taxi, take off, climb
- total route level (incl. descent)
- diversion
- contingency
- 10% of contingency
If it were a local flight for an hour or so, take off to landing, the aeroplane burns about 8USG/ph so as long as there are about 12-ish USGs in the tanks I'll fly and not worry about the in flight figures, only the time. OK so this relies on time keeping and knowing many local places to divert to should something happen, but I'm confident I know the area well enough
How you monitor fuel is a personal preference ultimately, and another of aviations great 'ifs'
