Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 05.16.06

Continuing our discussion of fuel management...

Advisory Circular 61-23C, the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge tells us

In addition to the amount of fuel required for the flight, there should be sufficient fuel for reserve.

Reserve Fuel

No person may begin a flight:

FAR 91.151

Under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed...

• During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes
• At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes

FAR 91.167

In IFR conditions unless [the aircraft] carries enough fuel (considering weather reports and forecasts and weather conditions) to...

• Complete the flight to the first airport of intended landing and fly after that for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed if...
• • for at least 1 hour before and for 1 hour after the estimated time arrival, the ceiling will be at least 2,000 feet above the airport elevation and the visibility will be at least 3 statute miles
• If the above weather requirements are not met, fly to the first airport of intended landing, fly to the designated alternate airport, and then fly after that for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed

Note: Different fuel requirements apply to helicopters.

Consider:

• These fuel minima cut it very close if weather or conditions should change, the airplane's fuel burn is not precisely as expected, the fuel load is less than thought, and/or if the design of the airplane's fuel system makes it challenging to access all usable fuel.
• The regulation calls for reserve fuel to be adequate at "normal cruising speed."  No fair planning to slow it down into "endurance mode" for a diversion, and planning to take off with less fuel.
• The regulation pertains to preflight planning.  Once airborne it's not a violation to land with less than the prescribed reserve fuel—but it's extremely hazardous to be cavalier about fuel. 

Remember, fuel starvation accidents very frequently happen within sight of the planned destination airport... and they are quite deadly.

Here's the kicker: reserve fuel is EMERGENCY fuel, for the day the runway's unexpectedly closed when you arrive, or when unforecast weather prevents you from landing. You should never dip into regulatory reserve fuel without declaring a Minimum Fuel Advisory, because your options are very limited with this little fuel on board.

Aero-tip of the day: FAA reserve fuel requirements are for preflight planning purposes only, and are barely adequate to assure a modicum of safety if things don't go precisely as planned. Consider a personal minimum of no less than one hour of fuel in reserve and, if in-flight monitoring shows you're eating into that hour, change your operation or divert to a closer runway to avoid a potentially deadly fuel exhaustion mishap.

FMI: Aero-Tips