Fuel Planning Calculator

Fuel exhaustion remains a leading cause of general aviation accidents. 14 CFR 91.151 requires VFR flights in airplanes to carry enough fuel to reach the destination plus 30 minutes of reserve during the day (45 minutes at night); for rotorcraft the VFR reserve is 20 minutes, day or night (§91.151(b)). IFR flights under 14 CFR 91.167 require fuel to the first airport of intended landing, the alternate (if one is required — see the §91.167(b) exception), plus 45 minutes at normal cruise — 30 minutes for helicopters.

This calculator applies those FAA minimums automatically. Always cross-check against your POH performance charts, account for wind, and add a personal margin above the legal minimum.

For in-flight recalculation, the AeroCopilot In-Flight tab recomputes your reserves in seconds from the fuel remaining and ground speed you enter, and the dashboard alerts you when reserve margins narrow.