What are the fuel reserve requirements for VFR and IFR flight?

• A. VFR 20 minutes, IFR 30 minutes (based on IFR plan and missed approach)
• B. VFR 30 minutes, IFR 60 minutes
• C. VFR 10 minutes, IFR 20 minutes
• D. VFR 0 minutes, IFR 15 minutes

Answer: (A)

Fuel reserve is the extra fuel you carry beyond the planned fuel to cover unexpected delays, deviations, or procedures you might encounter during flight. In this context, the required reserves are 20 minutes for VFR and 30 minutes for IFR. The higher IFR reserve reflects the greater uncertainty and potential fuel needs when flying under instrument conditions: you may need to hold, divert to an alternate, or execute a missed approach, all of which consume additional fuel. When planning an IFR flight, you’re accounting for the full IFR plan and the possibility of a missed approach, so you ensure enough fuel to complete the flight safely even if things don’t go exactly as planned. VFR operations, conducted in visual conditions with more predictable routing, have a smaller buffer that still protects you against headwinds, holding, or a diversion to an alternate.