VFR fuel requirements14 CFR 91.151 Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions
To begin a VFR flight in an airplane, you need enough fuel, considering wind and forecast weather, to fly to the first point of intended landing and then at least 30 more minutes by day or 45 minutes at night at normal cruising speed. A rotorcraft needs at least 20 minutes.
By the ATIS Alerts team · Updated October 15, 2026 · Regulation text current as of October 14, 2026. A study aid based on the official regulation text, not legal advice or an FAA interpretation.
At a glance
- Airplane, day: fuel to the first point of intended landing plus at least 30 minutes at normal cruising speed (a)(1).
- Airplane, night: fuel to the first point of intended landing plus at least 45 minutes at normal cruising speed (a)(2).
- Rotorcraft: fuel to the first point of intended landing plus at least 20 minutes at normal cruising speed (b).
- The fuel must be figured considering wind and forecast weather conditions (a) and (b).
- The rule is a condition for beginning the flight: no person may begin a flight without it (a) and (b).
In plain English
Section 91.151 sets the minimum fuel for beginning a flight under VFR conditions. For an airplane, there must be enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes during the day (a)(1) or at least 45 minutes at night (a)(2). For a rotorcraft the reserve is at least 20 minutes, and the rule does not set a separate night figure (b).
The reserve is counted from the first point of intended landing, not from the final destination. On a trip with a planned fuel stop, that stop is the first point of intended landing. The fuel figure also has to consider wind and forecast weather conditions, so a forecast headwind that adds flight time adds to the fuel required.
The reserve is stated in minutes of flight at normal cruising speed, not in gallons, so the amount depends on the aircraft's fuel burn at that speed. These are minimums: the words are "at least". Flights in IFR conditions are covered by a separate rule, 91.167.
Common mistakes
- Counting the reserve from the final destination instead of the first point of intended landing.
- Using the day reserve at night. An airplane needs at least 45 minutes at night (a)(2).
- Leaving wind and forecast weather out of the calculation. Both are named in (a) and (b).
The official text
14 CFR 91.151 as published on the eCFR, current as of October 14, 2026.
(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.
Test yourself
Practice questions from our free FAA written test prep that cite 14 CFR 91.151.
Sport Pilot
During the day, no person may begin a VFR flight in an airplane unless there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, at normal cruise speed, to fly after that for at least:
- A. 30 minutes.
- B. 45 minutes.
- C. 20 minutes.
- D. 1 hour.
Show answer
A. 30 minutes. Day VFR requires a 30-minute reserve beyond the first point of intended landing; night VFR requires 45 minutes. These are legal minimums, not planning targets. Many pilots set a personal minimum of an hour.
More Sport Pilot practice →Commercial Pilot
An airplane burns 11.5 gallons per hour at the selected cruise power. With 48 usable gallons aboard and a 45-minute night reserve required, the maximum time available for the cruise leg is approximately:
- A. 3 hours 25 minutes.
- B. 4 hours 10 minutes.
- C. 3 hours 45 minutes.
- D. 2 hours 55 minutes.
Show answer
A. 3 hours 25 minutes. The 45-minute reserve costs 0.75 × 11.5 = 8.6 gallons, leaving 39.4 usable. 39.4 ÷ 11.5 = 3.42 hours, about 3 hours 25 minutes (check: 48 ÷ 11.5 = 4 hours 10 minutes of total endurance, minus 45 minutes). Reserve fuel is not planning fuel; subtract it before you calculate range.
More Commercial Pilot practice →CFI Airplane
For VFR flight, day fuel reserves require enough fuel to reach the first point of intended landing and then fly for:
- A. 30 minutes at normal cruise.
- B. 45 minutes at normal cruise.
- C. 20 minutes.
- D. 1 hour.
Show answer
A. 30 minutes at normal cruise. Day 30 minutes, night 45. Instructors should teach these as legal minimums rather than plans: the fuel-exhaustion accident record is populated by pilots who planned to land with exactly the reserve.
More CFI Airplane practice →Advanced Ground Instructor
An airplane burning 12 gallons per hour flies a leg of 2 hours 30 minutes. Fuel required for the leg, before reserves, is:
- A. 30 gallons.
- B. 24 gallons.
- C. 36 gallons.
- D. 27 gallons.
Show answer
A. 30 gallons. 12 gph times 2.5 hours is 30 gallons, and that is before the 30-minute day or 45-minute night VFR reserve of 91.151 is added. Burn rate times decimal hours; the common slip is treating 2:30 as 2.3 hours.
More Advanced Ground Instructor practice →
Questions pilots ask
What is the VFR fuel reserve requirement?
For an airplane, enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and then at least 30 minutes during the day or 45 minutes at night at normal cruising speed (91.151(a)). For a rotorcraft, at least 20 minutes (91.151(b)).
Is the VFR night fuel reserve 45 minutes?
Yes, for airplanes. At night there must be enough fuel to reach the first point of intended landing and fly after that for at least 45 minutes at normal cruising speed (91.151(a)(2)).
Does wind count in the VFR fuel calculation?
Yes. Both paragraphs require the fuel to be figured considering wind and forecast weather conditions (91.151(a) and (b)).