You don’t expect to run out of fuel. But perhaps you’ve encountered a stiff headwind—much stronger than planned for—adding additional flight time to your trip. Now fuel is getting low. What do you do?
Your calculations look hopeful—there’s still enough fuel to make it to your destination—maybe. You’ve been receiving flight following from ATC, but you’re wondering if you should tell them about your fuel status? And what do you say? When it comes to communicating a low fuel situation to air traffic control, words matter; and what you say is as important as when you say it.
In this Air Safety Institute Ask ATC: Minimum Fuel vs. Fuel Emergency video clip, you’ll learn why you want to talk to ATC and how they can help when things don’t go as you had expected.
Additionally, you might want to prime your next flight with “ASI’s Golden Hour Fuel Reserve.” It means planning to land with at least one hour of fuel in the tanks, even if it means making an intermediate stop before continuing to your destination. Find additional fuel management-related resources at the "Fuel Management Safety Spotlight."
Related Articles
