Fxed Reserve Use.
 

There has been some different opinions regarding the use of Fixed Reserve.

1. Can you use the Fixed Reserve?

2. If not under what circumstances can the Fixed Reserve be used?

Thanks


beyes

In a nutshell (I don't give long-winded answers) -

1. Yes (see next answer).

2. Stuck gear, stuck flaps etc on arrival overhead the destination/alternate,
or any emergency situation that deems its use in order to stay alive in one
piece.

No, you can't use it. If you get down to FR you must shut down the engines and crash where you are........

You can't PLAN to use it, but of course you can if you have no choice- under most sets of legislation it would be classed as an emergency, however.

There if you need it
 

Always plan to be on the ground, with your fixed reserve still intact.

If you are still airborne, and using your fixed reserve, consider yourself entering a "fuel emergency" phase, and react accordingly, depending on the circumstances. eg, on approach somewhere, (if visual) no big deal. :ok:

CAAP 234-1 Guidelines for aircraft fuel requirements
 

As defined in the following link to CAAP

CAAP 234-1 Guidelines for aircraft fuel requirements

Fixed Reserve can be used, but only during the last 30 mins or so, leading up to fuel exhausting!

A CAAP is just that....and advisory publication. It is not a Reg.

PA39 posted:-
So PA39, are you going to provide the difinitive answer or just debunk the CAAP?

Please refer to the blue shaded box to the left of the front page of CAAP 234-1.
Also refer to CAR 234 (3)(d)

Any CAAP is advisory only. You are not required to conform to it. You can legally deviate from any CAAP.

The "definitive" answer to the original question: YES, you can consume fixed reserve fuel.

Most company ops manuals I have seen stick to the CAAP or something very similar. Private Ops I guess you can burn it but buyer beware, if something goes wrong you don't really have a leg to stand on, as the lawyers will reference the CAAP.

Once you have used some of your fixed reserve you then fill in an ASIR to explain why you needed to!:E

Not necessarily. The requirement to make a report is dependent on whether the fuel state became "dangerously" low or not.

The lawyers can't get you for burning fixed reserve if you are a private operation. It does not matter what the CAAP says in this case.

For a commercial operation (that references the CAAP in its fuel policy), however, if the lawyers are after you, it won't be because you deviated from the fuel policy, it will be because you ran out of fuel.

In which case, the rule they will get you on is CAR 234, which states "thou shalt not run out of fuel".

I am sure your insurance company will agree with you.:rolleyes:

Next time you park your aeroplane with next to no fuel why don't you ring up your local Casa inspector and ask for a ramp check!
:D

30 min of fuel goes pretty quickly when the weather has turned sh1tty

CASA would only be interested if you have broken some law. To have burnt some FR does not necessarily imply you have broken any laws.

If you are a private operation, then the only rule you may have broken is the one relating to submission of a report.

If a commercial operation, then whether you have broken anything depends on what it says in the "fuel policy" section of your operations manual.

Further to what Capt Fathom wrote, it is my belief that the Fixed Reserve is ALWAYS used in fuel starvation situations. You hardly ever read a fuel starvation IR where it has not been entirely utilised.

Not necessarily so. In fuel exhaustion, yes, but there are cases where fuel starvation occured with plenty of fuel in the tanks.

Read your Ops manuals everybody.:rolleyes:

Doesn't the proposed part 91 require an aircraft to land with a Thirty minute reserve intact? Presumably with prosecution occurring if you don't?

This seems to be a form of the old storemans lament - "but if I give you our only spare part to fit, then we won't have a spare!

'tankeng' exactly, reed yr Ops manual (if you have one) 'Sunny' correct you need to land with the fixed res intact, all other fuel loaded at the planing stage is usable. Obviously the fixed res IS available should it be needed as a last resort but regardless of what the Regs say IF you find yourself dipping into it then declare a fuel emerg get the flying machine on the ground in a safe manor fill out the paperwork & learn from the exercise.
I've always considered the fixed res fuel unavail at the planning stage, it's there as a legal requirement but also as a last resort to help save yr dumb ass!!.:E


Wmk2