Fuel Load

Category: aviation

The quantity of fuel required for a specific flight, including reserves for emergencies.

Fuel load is the "range governor." It must be calculated for the destination, plus legal requirements for an alternate airport, plus 30-45 minutes of reserve. This is one of the most critical pre-flight tasks handled by the PIC.

Common Examples

• The PIC ordered a full fuel load to ensure we had ample reserves for a potential diversion during the unpredictable winter storm.
• The final fuel load calculation is the direct result of balancing the mission’s distance, the aircraft’s weight, and safety mandates.