Aircraft Fuel Management, I

Each year a number of aircraft accidents are related to fuel starvation, exhaustion or contamination. There were numerous reasons for these avoidable accidents: ranging from inadequate fuel systems knowledge by the crew, preflight planning issues, takeoff and landing checks and failing to monitor fuel consumption during flight.

Or even failing to refuel the correct quantity before the flight due to differences in systems used for indicating the amount of fuel, which has caused some aircraft to make an unexpected glide in approach and landing.

During basic flight training or conversion to a new type of aircraft for an aircraft rating the pilot must become intimately familiar with the fuel system, amount of tanks, valves and unusable fuel and fuel consumption of the engine(s) during different flight regimes.

On these fuel management pages we will discuss basic procedures to follow when gaining insight in the fuel system and managing it during the flight, thereby assuring a safe outcome of the flight.

Aircraft Fuel Systems Knowledge

There is a difference between fuel exhaustion and starvation: exhaustion means no more fuel onboard the aircraft and starvation means fuel onboard but not reaching the engine for some reason. This could be a closed fuel valve, blocked line or even a leak causing an apparent high fuel consumption.

Some aircraft (C-150, C-152) have two fuel tanks but one fuel on/off valve. Fuel should be drawn from both tanks but due to turbulence, aircraft out of balance the fuel level will be drawn unequally from the tanks.

Dirty fuel

Fuel contamination is just that: dirty fuel and this could clog filters causing fuel starvation and a engine unwilling to run. Draining fuel during pre-flight should catch that before it becomes an issue.

Unfamiliarity with the fuel system can (and has) lead to accidents. It is very important that the pilot receives thorough training on the fuel systems of the aircraft they fly.

Type rating

Some countries conduct an aircraft type rating issue which is then added to the license of the pilot showing the types of aircraft they are licensed to fly. During training for the type rating the aircraft manual must be studied with close attention to:

Make sure that the person giving this instruction is qualified and has the experience on the type of aircraft.

If you are not current in a particular type of aircraft reread the aircraft flight manual and re-familiarise yourself with special attention to the fuel system.

Maximum fuel

Keep in mind that although an aircraft can carry lots of fuel, you need to make sure that the maximum take-off weight is not exceeded. For example: the MCR-01, some models can carry up to 150 liters, doing that will result in not being able to take a passenger along for the flight. But then you could fly for more than six hours or so. Alone.