Any European NCC operator out there? Fuel question
 

Hello,
how do you calculate the Final Reserve fuel for your NCC operation? The EASA 965/2012 clearly states how to calculate the FRF for AOC operation, but leaves some grey area for the NCC.
For the NCC the 965/2012 say the following:

NCC.OP.130 Fuel and oil supply – aeroplanes
The pilot-in-command shall only commence a flight if the aeroplane carries sufficient fuel and oil for the following:
for IFR flights:
(i) when no destination alternate is required, to fly to the aerodrome of intended landing, and thereafter to fly for at least 45 minutes at normal cruising altitude; or
(ii) when a destination alternate is required, to fly to the aerodrome of intended landing, to an alternate aerodrome and thereafter to fly for at least 45 minutes at normal cruising altitude.

The question is what is “normal cruising altitude”. We use PPS for flight planning and if we flight plan at FL260 for example, the FRF is about 1500 lbs, if at FL450 the FRF is about 850 lbs. (850 lbs is also about 30 minutes at holding speed at 1 500 ft above aerodrome elevation). Most likely this is the correct way to calculate the FRF, but would still like to verify this with another NCC operator.

Thanks
Cheers
OM inbound

I work for a competitor to your stated provider, however, we give the option for the user to specify either 1500ft or Normal Cruising Altitude for Final Reserve Calculation.

In the second scenario, the system will review what your cruising level was for that leg and use that flight level to calculate the fuel burn.

I would assume it would be on this basis that your current provider will also calculate the fuel figure to be used.

I do agree that the regulation is not clear and we, therefore, implemented the calculation using this methodology.

If you have any questions, I would imagine speaking with your provider directly is the way forward.

I hope this helps.

OM,

The choice is yours. I have previously used 45 mins cruising at the Alt I would use to my alternate. However most corporate jets burn almost the exact same amount of fuel holding at 1500' as they do cruising for 45 mins. Six of one and half a dozen of another.

MM