14 CFR 91.151 — Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions
VFR day: fuel to destination plus 30-minute reserve. VFR night: fuel to destination plus 45-minute reserve.
Regulation Text
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: during the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or at night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.
Note: This is an excerpt. Refer to the full regulation in eCFR for the complete text.
Plain-English Explanation
Before a VFR flight, you must have enough fuel to reach your destination plus a reserve: 30 minutes during the day, 45 minutes at night. This is calculated at normal cruise speed. Night requires more reserve because finding an alternate landing spot in the dark is harder. These are legal minimums — smart pilots carry significantly more fuel. Running out of fuel is both dangerous and a regulation violation.
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Related Regulations
14 CFR 91.167 — Fuel Requirements for Flight in IFR Conditions
IFR fuel: enough to fly to destination, then to alternate (if required), then 45-minute reserve at normal cruising speed.
§91.10314 CFR 91.103 — Preflight Action
PIC must familiarize themselves with all available information concerning the flight, including weather, fuel requirements, alternatives, runway lengths, and performance data.
§91.1314 CFR 91.13 — Careless or Reckless Operation
Prohibits operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
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