VFR Fuel Requirements in Canada

The rule in one table

The IFR rows are there for contrast: only an IFR flight plans for an approach, a missed approach and an alternate. The section does not apply to gliders, balloons or ultra-light aeroplanes (CARs 602.88(1)).

In the figure, set a flight time, a fuel burn and the fuel on board, then switch from day to night. The reserve grows from 30 to 45 minutes after the destination, and the same fuel load can stop being legal.

The rule, word for word

Subsection (2) says when the rule bites; subsection (3) sets the VFR amounts. TC AIM RAC 3.12.1 restates subsection (3).

Day and night: where the line falls

The 45-minute reserve starts with night, and night in the CARs is not sunset. It runs from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of morning civil twilight, so the time between sunset and the end of evening civil twilight is still day.

CARs 602.88 does not say how to treat a flight that takes off by day and lands after the end of evening civil twilight. Planning the 45-minute reserve whenever any part of the flight will be at night always meets the rule, because 45 minutes covers 30.

Working it out

The reserve is time, flown "at normal cruising speed" after you reach the destination aerodrome (CARs 602.88(3)(a)). Turn it into litres with your cruise fuel burn:

Minimum fuel = cruise burn × (flight time to the destination + 30 or 45 minutes)

Say your aeroplane burns 30 L/h in cruise and the flight to the destination takes 1 h 15 min.

• By day: 1 h 15 min + 30 min = 1 h 45 min. 30 L/h × 1.75 h = 52.5 L.
• At night: 1 h 15 min + 45 min = 2 h. 30 L/h × 2 h = 60 L.

A headwind adds to the flight time, so it adds trip fuel; the reserve stays 30 or 45 minutes. This is the legal floor, before the climb, taxiing and the other allowances below. Plan with the usable fuel your aeroplane's flight manual gives, not the tank capacity.

Before take-off, and when you change destination

CARs 602.88(2) applies at two moments: when you commence the flight, and when, during flight, you change the destination aerodrome set out in your flight plan or flight itinerary. Decide in the air to press on to a farther aerodrome, and the fuel then on board must take you there with the same reserve still intact.

What subsection (5) adds

The reserve is not meant to absorb the delays you can see coming. Every aircraft, VFR or IFR, also carries enough fuel to provide for (CARs 602.88(5); TC AIM RAC 3.12):

• "taxiing and foreseeable delays prior to take-off";
• "meteorological conditions";
• "foreseeable air traffic routings and traffic delays";
• landing at a suitable aerodrome after a loss of cabin pressurization or, in a multi-engined aircraft, an engine failure "at the most critical point during the flight";
• "any other foreseeable conditions that could delay the landing of the aircraft."

The CARs put no number on these. You work them out for the flight in front of you.

Where candidates lose marks

• The reserve comes after the destination. It is not the total fuel load, and it is not burned on the way.
• Night is 45 minutes, day is 30. Night starts at the end of evening civil twilight, not at sunset (CARs 101.01).
• No alternate for VFR. Destination, then alternate, then a reserve is the IFR rule (CARs 602.88(4)).
• Time, not distance. The reserve is 30 or 45 minutes "at normal cruising speed" (CARs 602.88(3)(a)), turned into litres with your cruise burn.
• A change of destination re-tests the fuel. CARs 602.88(2) applies "during flight" as well as at the start.
• Gliders, balloons and ultra-light aeroplanes are outside the section (CARs 602.88(1)).

Practice

The first question is Transport Canada's own PSTAR question, reproduced word for word from TP 11919E, Study and Reference Guide: Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (7th ed., December 2022), Department of Transport, Canada, with the Department's permission. Its key agrees with Transport Canada's published answer key; the explanation is TC Exam Prep's. The other three are TC Exam Prep's.

1. Question 1 of 4

   The amount of fuel carried on board any propeller-driven aeroplane at the commencement of a day VFR flight must be sufficient, having regard to the meteorological conditions and foreseeable delays that are expected in flight, to fly to the destination aerodrome

   1and then fly for a period of 45 minutes at normal cruising speed.2and then fly for a period of 30 minutes at normal cruising speed.3then to a specified alternate aerodrome and then fly for a period of 30 minutes at normal cruising speed.4then to a specified alternate aerodrome and then for a period of 45 minutes at normal cruising speed.

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2. Question 2 of 4

   You plan a night VFR flight in an aeroplane that burns 32 L/h in cruise. The flight to the destination takes 1 h 20 min. What is the least fuel CARs 602.88(3) lets you depart with, before the allowances of 602.88(5)?

   164.0 L266.7 L358.7 L442.7 L

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3. Question 3 of 4

   Halfway through a day VFR flight you decide to continue past your planned destination to an aerodrome 40 NM farther on. Which is correct under CARs 602.88?

   1The fuel rule applies only when the flight commences.2You must carry enough to reach the new destination and then an alternate.3You need enough fuel to reach the new destination and then fly 30 minutes.4You may use the 30-minute reserve, because it was carried for changes like this.

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4. Question 4 of 4

   Which statement about the VFR fuel reserve in CARs 602.88 is correct?

   1It already includes the fuel needed for taxiing and foreseeable delays.2The 45-minute night reserve applies from sunset.3It applies to ultra-light aeroplanes as it does to other aeroplanes.4It is time at normal cruising speed, flown after reaching the destination aerodrome.

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