FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Flight Planning and PerformanceEasy
During cruise, a Part 121 flight crew advises ATC, 'We're minimum fuel.' Per the AIM, what does this phraseology indicate?
- AThe flight requires an immediate landing clearance ahead of all other traffic.
- BThe flight's fuel supply has reached a state where it can accept little or no delay, but this is not an emergency and priority handling is not automatically implied.
- CFuel is at or below reserve levels, requiring an immediate diversion to the nearest suitable airport.
- DThe flight is declaring a fuel emergency and requires priority handling.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The flight's fuel supply has reached a state where it can accept little or no delay, but this is not an emergency and priority handling is not automatically implied.
Per the AIM, 'minimum fuel' advises ATC that the aircraft's fuel supply is such that it can accept little or no delay, but this is not an emergency; ATC is not required to provide priority handling unless conditions change.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Priority landing clearance is not implied unless the crew declares an emergency.
- C. 'Minimum fuel' does not necessarily mean reserves are reached; it's an advisory, not a mandatory diversion trigger.
- D. This describes a fuel emergency declaration ('Mayday' or 'fuel emergency'), which is a stronger term than 'minimum fuel'.
Minimum Fuel Advisory
A pilot report to ATC that fuel state allows little or no delay; it is advisory, not an emergency declaration.
- Not an emergency, no automatic priority handling
- Indicates possible future emergency if delay occurs
- Different from declaring 'fuel emergency' or 'Mayday'
Memory trick: 'Minimum fuel' = a whisper, not a scream (unlike an emergency).