Question 1

What fuel reserves does EASA require for VFR day flights?

Accepted Answer

EASA NCO.OP.125 requires VFR day flights to carry enough fuel to reach the destination plus a 30-minute reserve at normal cruise consumption. VFR night flights require 45 minutes. IFR flights require alternate fuel plus 45 minutes holding at 1,500 ft above the alternate.

Question 2

What is TAS and how does it differ from IAS?

Accepted Answer

Indicated Airspeed (IAS) is what your ASI reads. True Airspeed (TAS) is IAS corrected for pressure altitude and temperature — it reflects your actual speed through the air mass. TAS typically increases about 2% per 1,000 ft of altitude. Use TAS (or groundspeed if known) for fuel burn calculations.

Question 3

How do I calculate total fuel for a flight with a diversion?

Accepted Answer

Sum four components: trip fuel (distance ÷ groundspeed × GPH), alternate fuel (same formula for diversion leg), reserve fuel (30 min VFR day / 45 min VFR night or IFR), and taxi fuel (typically 10-15 minutes at ground burn rate). Always round up.

Question 4

Why does burn rate increase at low altitude?

Accepted Answer

Denser air at lower altitudes means the engine ingests more oxygen per intake stroke, requiring a richer mixture to maintain correct fuel-air ratio. Burn rates published in POH performance charts account for this — always use the chart value for your planned cruise altitude.

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