FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Regulations (Part 121)Hard
A Part 121 supplemental operator plans a flight in a turbine-engine powered airplane (other than turbo-propeller) to a destination where, based on weather forecasts, no alternate airport is required by regulation. Under 14 CFR 121.643, what additional fuel must be carried beyond that needed to fly to and land at the destination?
- ANo additional fuel is required if weather at the destination is forecast to be VFR
- BFuel to fly for 10 percent of the total time required to fly from the departure airport to, and land at, the destination airport
- CFuel to fly to the most distant alternate listed in the dispatch release
- DFuel to fly for 45 minutes at normal cruising fuel consumption
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Fuel to fly for 10 percent of the total time required to fly from the departure airport to, and land at, the destination airport
Under 121.643, when an alternate is not required, a supplemental operation using a qualifying turbine-powered airplane must carry, in addition to fuel to fly to and land at the destination, enough fuel to fly for 10 percent of the total time required to fly from the departure airport to, and land at, the destination airport. This differs from the domestic 45-minute reserve and the flag 10%-plus-30-minute rule.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Fuel reserves are still mandatory regardless of forecast VFR conditions.
- C. Fuel to the alternate is irrelevant since no alternate is required in this scenario.
- D. The 45-minute reserve applies to alternate-required scenarios or other rule sets, not this no-alternate case.
Supplemental Fuel, No Alternate (121.643)
Specifies the fuel reserve for supplemental turbine-powered (non-turboprop) flights when no alternate airport is required.
- Base fuel to destination plus 10% of total enroute time
- Distinct from flag ops' 10% + 30-minute rule
- Distinct from domestic ops' fixed 45-minute reserve
Memory trick: "Supplemental with no alternate? Add a Tenth."