Fuel Remaining – Canadian Flight Trainers

Fuel remaining is the total usable fuel on board an aircraft at any given time, typically expressed in litres, gallons, or hours of endurance at the current power setting. Monitoring and reporting fuel remaining is a fundamental pilot duty and a key element of flight planning.

Fuel Minimums in Canadian Regulations

Day VFR: Sufficient fuel to complete the flight to the first point of intended landing, plus 30 minutes at cruise power
Night VFR: Sufficient fuel to complete the flight to destination, plus 45 minutes at cruise power
IFR (to an airport with a standard alternate): Fuel to destination, plus fuel for the alternate approach and missed approach, plus 45 minutes at normal cruise

Declaring Minimum Fuel

“Minimum fuel” is not a distress call but an advisory — it informs ATC that any delay requiring holding will make the aircraft declare an emergency. Once minimum fuel is declared, the pilot should receive priority handling. If fuel reaches emergency levels (insufficient to reach an airport safely), declare MAYDAY.

Related Terms

See also: Flight Plan, Minimum Fuel, Mayday.