📘14 CFR §91.151 - Fuel Requirements for VFR Flight

✏️ Plain-English Summary:

You must carry enough fuel to reach your destination and then some. The FAA requires a VFR fuel reserve, and the amount depends on whether you're flying during the day or night.

✅ Key Takeaways for PPL Students:

Condition	Fuel Required
Day VFR	Enough fuel to fly to the destination and then for 30 minutes at normal cruising speed
Night VFR	Destination + 45 minutes at normal cruising speed

💡 “30 day / 45 night” is your memory trigger.

🧠 How the FAA Defines It:

• “Sufficient fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed, fly thereafter for at least...”

  • 30 minutes by day

  • 45 minutes by night

✈️ Scenario:

You’re flying the DA20 at 110 knots and plan a 2-hour VFR flight. Your preflight shows you’ll land with 2.8 gallons in reserve (about 15 minutes of fuel). ❌ Not legal — you must land with 30 minutes (day) or 45 minutes (night) worth of fuel at cruising speed.

🔍 Common Misconception:

“I’m fine as long as I have extra fuel.” Not true. You must plan for the reserve as part of your preflight — not just hope you’ll get there with some left.

🎓 CFI Teaching Tip:

Have students calculate their fuel burn based on current performance (POH + real numbers) — not just guess. Many don’t realize how little fuel gives them 30 or 45 minutes.

✅ Use this reg to introduce the concept of conservative flight planning and “never dip into your reserve.”

📚 References:

• FAR: 14 CFR §91.151

• AIM 5-1-4 & 5-1-8: Fuel planning and flight plan procedures

• POH (DA40/DA20): For actual cruise fuel burn values