FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Regulations (14 CFR 117/121/61)Hard
For a Part 121 flag (international) operation under 14 CFR 121.645, when an alternate airport is required, fuel must be carried to fly to the destination, then to the most distant alternate specified, and then for how long at normal cruising fuel consumption?
- A45 minutes
- B30 minutes
- C15 minutes
- D60 minutes
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 30 minutes
14 CFR 121.645 (flag operations) requires fuel to fly to the destination, then to the most distant alternate, and then to fly for an additional 30 minutes at normal cruising fuel consumption — a shorter reserve than the 45-minute domestic requirement under 121.639.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 45 minutes is the domestic (121.639) reserve, not the flag reserve.
- C. 15 minutes is insufficient and not a regulatory reserve figure.
- D. 60 minutes is not specified under either domestic or flag fuel rules.
Flag Operations Fuel Reserve (121.645)
Minimum fuel reserve for Part 121 international (flag) operations beyond destination and alternate fuel.
- Fuel to destination, then to most distant alternate, then 30 min reserve at normal cruise
- Distinct from the 45-minute domestic reserve under 121.639
- Supplemental operations under 121.646 may use different fuel planning based on aircraft type
Memory trick: "Flag flies with 30, domestic drives with 45."