Fuel Calculator
Trip fuel from distance and burn, plus a reserve, for the total required.
Inputs
Result
Total fuel required
130units
Trip 100 + reserve 30
Trip fuel
2:30 at 40/hr
100units
Reserve fuel
45 min hold
30units
Total fuel 130 units (trip 100 + reserve 30)
Formula
Ref- Trip time = distance ÷ ground speed
- Trip fuel = trip time × burn rate
- Reserve fuel = (reserve ÷ 60) × burn rate; total = trip + reserve
Worked example
Ref300 nm at 120 kt, burning 40 units/hr, 45-min reserve.
- 1.Trip time = 300 ÷ 120 = 2.5 h.
- 2.Trip fuel = 2.5 × 40 = 100 units.
- 3.Reserve = (45 ÷ 60) × 40 = 30 units.
- 4.Total = 100 + 30 = 130 units.
130 units total (100 trip + 30 reserve).
How it works
RefFuel planning is trip fuel plus a reserve. Trip fuel comes straight from the time en route and the hourly burn; the reserve is the extra you must land with. The tool is unit-agnostic — feed it litres, gallons or kilograms consistently and the totals follow.
DGCA student tip
ExamKnow your required reserves: typically 30 minutes VFR day, 45 minutes VFR night, plus alternate and contingency for IFR. The exam expects you to add reserve ON TOP of trip fuel, never inside it.
Common mistakes
Watch- Forgetting to add the reserve to the trip fuel.
- Using TAS instead of ground speed for the trip time.
- Mixing fuel units (litres vs gallons vs kg) within one plan.