Thread: Usable fuel question.

Hi guys,The CTLS has a 34 gals tank that only you can really count on 32 gals (usable) The FAA stt that you have to have 30 min of fuel in reserve.

Now my question is this: So wend I do my calculation for a X-country I have to add the 2 Gals of not usable fuel plus a additional 30 min of fuel (reserve) as not usable?.that is what I think they meant ,but I want to make sure with you guys.

If I am correct so.. then if the CT burn 5.5 gph , It give you 5.8 hr with 32 gal so 5.5 gph divide it in 2 (30 min reserve), is 2.75 gal or 2 3/4 additional gal. that I have to leave on the tank, so I only plan with 29 gal and 1/4 of fuel. Correct?


Thank you for you help

I would only cut it that close if I was experienced in balancing fuel between tanks.

jose,

optics guy is right, probably no need to cut it that close but you do have to do the calcs for your x-country so calculate based on usable fuel but take enough fuel for more then 30min reserve. i fly in a remote area and generally have 2 hours reserve.

I have flown two five hour legs with my CTSW and was comfortable with the reserve I had upon landing. Anymore than that would start to make me nervous. I routinely burn five GPH at 5100-5200 RPM.

I also keep an eye on the fuel balance, (between the two tanks) and adjust it as needed.

I never worry about running out of fuel because I never run it that close nor should anyone. You never know what mother nature will throw at you or for that matter your plane may have a leak and you don't know about it. If you fly enough mother nature one day will try an smite thee. I know lots of what ifs, but why be included in yourself in the Darwin club when it is so easy to stay out of the way of trouble.. There is no good reason to ever put yourself in that situation. After 4 hours of fling why are you not getting fuel, stopping to stretch because it's not good to sit in the same position for those long ours and a bathroom break or grab a drink. Flying to the point of running so low on fuel you have to worry has never been a good practice since the days of flying. Plenty in the cemetery to proof that out.

Oh yes I know that I am not going to go to the extreme w/ gas. I just want to know what the FAA is trying to say. Thank you guys for you help.

Jose, for the FAA regulations you need enough fuel to get where you are going, plus enough for 1/2 hour at normal cruise, plus unusable. For the check ride the examiner will like it when you say what you need legally, but I want 1 to 1.5 hours extra in the tanks. because there is legal, then there is safe. Tom

I don't usually run the tanks below 10 gallons (total remaining fuel) or so for some of the reasons stated earlier. If I need to stop after 3-4 hours, it's not too much trouble to top off the tanks for the sense of well-being. If I were going to run below 10 gallons, I'd make sure to keep an eye on the fuel tubes (a bright flashlight works well for me).

I agree that with our skinny tanks and the fuel imbalance we need to monitor, extra fuel is smart. My personal minumuns in Cessnas and such used to be 1 hour useable left on landing, and I stretched that to 45 minutes in my KP5 (since I only had 23 useable). But so far in the CT I am leaving 2 hours, which is still way beyond bladder limits if I start full. This is based mainly on information elsewhere in this forum. WF

the biggest pressure i have to minimize my reserves is the fact that i use 100% mogas so i need enough fuel for the round trip. i used 5 gal cans for about 1-week.

i stop every couple of hours as well but i don't typically get fuel.