NCO.OP.185 In-flight fuel management

SI No. 1290/2024

Text in magenta in force from 30 October 2025

The pilot-in-command shall check at regular intervals that the amount of usable fuel remaining in flight is not less than the fuel required to proceed to a weather-permissible aerodrome or operating site and the planned reserve fuel as required by points NCO.OP.125 or NCO.OP.126.

The text below will replace the text above on 30 October 2025:

1. The pilot-in-command must monitor the amount of useable fuel or energy remaining on board to ensure that it is protected and not less than the fuel or energy that is required to proceed to an aerodrome or operating site where a safe landing can be made.

2. The pilot-in-command of a controlled flight must advise air traffic control of a ‘minimum fuel or energy’ state by declaring “MINIMUM FUEL” when the pilot-incommand has:

   1. committed to land at a specific aerodrome or operating site; and

   2. calculated that any change to the existing clearance to that aerodrome or operating site, or other air traffic delays, may result in landing with less than the planned final reserve fuel or energy.

3. The pilot-in-command of a controlled flight must declare a situation of ‘fuel or energy emergency’ by broadcasting ‘MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY FUEL’ when the usable fuel or energy estimated to be available upon landing at the nearest aerodrome or operating site where a safe landing can be made is less than the planned final reserve fuel or energy.