Fuel is one of the most important factors for flight safety. The factors that have too take into account when thinking of fuel are:
- Quantity
- Quality
- Refueling operations
In the following you can find valuable information concerning “fuel”.
- Watch video from AOPA: Fuel Management Made Easy
- Watch video from AOPA: Accident case study “Faulty Assumptions”
- Watch video from AOPA: Accident Case Study “Final Approach”
- Watch video from PPL IR Europe: Fuel Planning and Management
- Watch video from Civil Aviation safety Authority of Australia: Flight Planning-Fuel Exhaustion
- Visit AOPA’s site on Fuel Systems
- Visit AOPA’s site on Fueling Process
- Visit SKYBRARY site on: Fuel – In – Flight management
AOPA: keep these points in mind:
- Fueling. Be present every time your aircraft is fueled: State fuel grade, quantity, and tanks to be filled.
- Know what’s in your tanks—check for water or contaminants and verify they are filled with the proper fuel grade.
- Secure fuel caps after you check the tank.
- Determine available fuel in hours and minutes instead of gallons and pounds.
- Lean the mixture to achieve the best performance, range, and endurance.
- Recalculate range and endurance hourly to maintain adequate fuel reserves.
- Land with at least one hour of fuel.
- Know the fuel system—understand how and when to use boost pumps, auxiliary tanks, and fuel transfer pumps.
- Use a timer to remind you to switch tanks during flight.
- Switch tanks before reaching pattern altitude.
- Land as soon as possible if you’re low on fuel.
- Declare a fuel emergency with ATC to get priority handling.
