VFR fuel requirements

Traffic Pattern Aug 15, 2026

FAR Ninety-One Point One Fifty-One, the Fuel Reserve Rule, and the Forty-Five Minutes You're Legally Required to Land With But Should Never Actually Use

FAR 91.151 requires 30 minutes of VFR fuel reserve by day and 45 at night - here's why you should never actually fly to those numbers.

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Traffic Pattern Jul 1, 2026

The Fuel Reserve Floor - FAR 91 Point 151, the Forty-Five Minute Rule, and Why Smart Pilots Land Before They Have To

FAR 91.151 sets a 45-minute VFR fuel reserve as a legal floor - not a planning target. Here's how to build a complete cross-country fuel plan and manage it in the air.

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