Fuel Policy – Fuel Planning Requirements – Minimum Fuel Requirements – DGCA – ICAO
in Pilot Notes

Fuel Policy – Fuel Planning Requirements – Minimum Fuel Requirements – DGCA – ICAO

Fuel Policy – Fuel Planning Requirements – Minimum Fuel Requirements – DGCA – ICAO.

When is destination alternate aerodrome required? 

At least one destination alternate aerodrome is required for the IFR flights except for the under-mentioned cases:

1. Duration of flight is such that at the destination:

  • Approach and landing may be made under VMC
  • Separate runways are usable at time of use of destination aerodrome with at least one having operational instrument approach procedure

2. The aerodrome is isolated


Fuel Requirements – (as per DGCA)

  1. Taxi Fuel
  2. Trip Fuel
  3. Contingency Fuel
  4. Destination alternate fuel
  5. Final reserve fuel
  6. Additional fuel

Taxi Fuel fuel expected to be consumed before take-off (includes APU)

Trip Fuel takeoff to landing at destination

Contingency Fuel 5% of trip fuel or 5 min in hold at holding speed (at 1500 ft at destination) whichever is higher

Destination Alternate Fuel

  1. Fuel required performing missed approach at destination, climbing to, cruising at expected cruising altitude, descending and conduct approach and landing at destination alternate aerodrome.
  2. Where a flight is operated without a destination alternate aerodrome, the amount of fuel required to enable the aero plane to fly for 15 minutes at holding speed at 1500 ft above destination.
  3. In case of isolated aerodrome
  • for a piston engine, amount of fuel required to fly for 45 minutes plus 15% of flight time planned to be spent at cruising level, including final reserve fuel or two hours, whichever is less
  • for turbine engine, amount of fuel required to fly for two hours at normal cruise consumption above the destination aerodrome, including final reserve fuel

Final reserve fuel –

  1. for piston engine, the amount of fuel required to fly for 45 minutes under speed and altitude conditions specified by State of Operator
  2. on turbine engine, the amount of fuel required to fly for 30 minutes at holding speed at 1500 ft above aerodrome elevation

Additional fuel –

It is supplementary amount of fuel required if the minimum fuel calculated in accordance with points b, c, d and e above is not sufficient to:

a. allow the aircraft to descend and proceed to alternate aerodrome in event of engine failure or loss of pressurization at most critical point

  • fly for 15 min at holding speed at 1500 ft
  • make an approach and landing

b. allow aircraft engaged in EDTO to comply with EDTO critical fuel scenario as established by DGCA

c. meet additional requirement if any

fuel planning

Regulation mandates that Pilot-In-Command should continually ensure that the amount of usable fuel remaining on board is not less than the fuel required to proceed to aerodrome were safe landing can be made with the planned final reserve fuel remaining upon landing. Diversion should be initiated at time such that minimum of 30 minutes holding fuel at 1500 ft is available at alternate.