§ 91.151 Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions
14 CFR Part 91 — Subpart B—Flight Rules
Official text — 14 CFR § 91.151
REGULATION — LEGALLY BINDING(a) No person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed—
(1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or
(2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.
(b) No person may begin a flight in a rotorcraft under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed, to fly after that for at least 20 minutes.
Reproduced from the eCFR. Text as amended through 2026-07-31. Verify against the official source before relying on it operationally.
SkeyeMentor explanation
Educational — not an FAA sourceIn plain English
VFR fuel reserve requirements: the amount of fuel that must be aboard, at normal cruising speed, to fly to the first point of intended landing and then continue for a specified additional time by day and by night.
Why it matters
The reserve is measured in time at cruise, not in gallons, and the night requirement is larger than the day requirement.
Common mistake
Planning to land with the reserve intact but computing it against a fuel burn that does not reflect actual cruise conditions.
Quick example
Plan a night cross-country and state the minimum fuel on board at takeoff under this section.
Written and reviewed by the SkeyeMentor editorial team. This explanation is a study aid, not legal advice, and it is not part of the official text above. Verify current requirements through the official source before relying on them operationally.
Is this a regulation?
Yes — this is regulatory text and is legally binding.
Text published in the Code of Federal Regulations. Regulations are legally binding on pilots and operators.
Yes — this is the text of a Federal Aviation Regulation. It is legally binding. The explanation below it is SkeyeMentor educational content, not part of the regulation.