VFR Fuel Requirements

FAR 91.151 — VFR Fuel Requirements

FAR 91.151 sets minimum fuel reserves for VFR flight: 30 minutes day, 45 minutes night for airplanes, 20 minutes for rotorcraft. Study guide for pilots.

In Plain English

FAR 91.151 sets the minimum fuel you must have on board before starting a VFR flight. The rule requires enough fuel — considering wind and forecast weather — to fly to your first point of intended landing at normal cruising speed, plus a reserve.

The required reserves are:

Airplane, day VFR: at least 30 minutes of additional flight time
Airplane, night VFR: at least 45 minutes of additional flight time
Rotorcraft, VFR: at least 20 minutes of additional flight time

Why it matters: fuel exhaustion remains a leading cause of preventable accidents. This rule forces you to plan with a realistic margin, accounting for headwinds, possible diversions, and traffic delays. Note the reserve is calculated at normal cruising speed, not at a low-power setting. The rule sets a legal minimum — most operators and instructors recommend planning for 1 hour of reserve as a safer personal standard.

Regulation Text

14 CFR § 91.151

§ 91.151 Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions. (a) No person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed— (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes. (b) No person may begin a flight in a rotorcraft under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed, to fly after that for at least 20 minutes.

Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask

Q1What are the fuel requirements for a VFR flight in an airplane during the day and at night?

Per FAR 91.151, you must have enough fuel to reach your first point of intended landing and then fly at normal cruising speed for 30 minutes during the day or 45 minutes at night.

Q2Do the VFR fuel reserve requirements apply to helicopters?

Yes. FAR 91.151(b) requires a rotorcraft on a VFR flight to carry enough fuel to reach the first point of intended landing plus 20 minutes at normal cruising speed, day or night.

Q3How is the VFR fuel reserve calculated — at best endurance or cruise speed?

FAR 91.151 specifies the reserve is calculated assuming normal cruising speed, not best endurance, and must consider wind and forecast weather conditions.

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Related Sections in Part 91

§ 91.1

Part 91 Applicability