FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)Navigation and Flight PlanningEasy
A commercial pilot plans a day VFR cross-country flight. The airplane's computed fuel burn to the destination is 32 gallons, and the engine consumes fuel at a cruise rate of 8 gallons per hour. Under 14 CFR Part 91, what is the minimum amount of usable fuel that must be on board at takeoff?
- A36 gallons
- B34 gallons
- C40 gallons
- D32 gallons
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 36 gallons
14 CFR 91.151(a)(1) requires day VFR flights to carry enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing plus 30 minutes at normal cruise speed. Reserve = 8 GPH x 0.5 hr = 4 gallons. Total required = 32 + 4 = 36 gallons.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This reflects only a 15-minute reserve, which is insufficient.
- C. This exceeds the minimum requirement by adding a full hour of reserve.
- D. This is only the fuel to the destination with no reserve.
Day VFR Fuel Reserve (91.151)
Under day VFR, a pilot must carry enough fuel to reach the first point of intended landing plus fly 30 minutes at normal cruising speed thereafter.
- Day VFR reserve = 30 minutes at cruise burn rate
- Night VFR reserve = 45 minutes
- Reserve is calculated using normal cruise fuel consumption, not economy cruise
Memory trick: Day = 3 (0 minutes), Night = 4 (5 minutes) — fuel reserves grow after dark.