Marius_S
29th May 2018, 20:48
Was reading a discussion on another forum regarding the minimum fuel on landing, and the difference between FAA and EASA regulations. I have both a FAA and an EASA license, and I was quite sure I knew the regulations, but I might have been wrong.
In Europe, my understanding is that the minimum fuel needed upon landing would be alternate fuel (if an alternate was required), plus 30 minutes of additional fuel. If landing at an alternate airport with anything less then 30 minutes, you need to come up with some good answers to the relevant people...
I did believe the same would be true for in the US as well (except it would 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes). But, someone stated that you are allowed to go below those 45 minutes without declaring any fuel emergencies. So, I had to do some searching online, and found that regulation states the following (I checked for both part 91 and part 121 which are quite similar when it comes to required fuel for IFR flights:
You need fuel for the planned route of flight plus alternate if required and then an additional 45 minutes of fuel. But it doesn't say that you need to be landing with 45 minutes remaining.
After some more searching, I did find this document from the FAA: https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2008/info08004.pdf
It states, among other things, the following:
"The act of using a portion of the reserve fuel assigned to a flight is not, in its self a cause to declare a minimum fuel state with the controlling agency. Regulations require reserve fuel to enable aircraft to maneuver, due to unforeseen circumstances. Many aircraft safely arrive at their destination having used a portion of the fuel designated as reserve. There is no regulatory definition as to when, specifically, a pilot must declare “minimum fuel” or a fuel emergency. Air carriers typically develop such guidance for their pilots and include it in their General Operations Manuals"
So, is it correct that you are allowed to use part of those 45 minutes of reserve fuel?
In Europe, my understanding is that the minimum fuel needed upon landing would be alternate fuel (if an alternate was required), plus 30 minutes of additional fuel. If landing at an alternate airport with anything less then 30 minutes, you need to come up with some good answers to the relevant people...
I did believe the same would be true for in the US as well (except it would 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes). But, someone stated that you are allowed to go below those 45 minutes without declaring any fuel emergencies. So, I had to do some searching online, and found that regulation states the following (I checked for both part 91 and part 121 which are quite similar when it comes to required fuel for IFR flights:
You need fuel for the planned route of flight plus alternate if required and then an additional 45 minutes of fuel. But it doesn't say that you need to be landing with 45 minutes remaining.
After some more searching, I did find this document from the FAA: https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2008/info08004.pdf
It states, among other things, the following:
"The act of using a portion of the reserve fuel assigned to a flight is not, in its self a cause to declare a minimum fuel state with the controlling agency. Regulations require reserve fuel to enable aircraft to maneuver, due to unforeseen circumstances. Many aircraft safely arrive at their destination having used a portion of the fuel designated as reserve. There is no regulatory definition as to when, specifically, a pilot must declare “minimum fuel” or a fuel emergency. Air carriers typically develop such guidance for their pilots and include it in their General Operations Manuals"
So, is it correct that you are allowed to use part of those 45 minutes of reserve fuel?