What is the IFR fuel requirement for a flight?

The IFR fuel requirement mandates that an aircraft must carry enough fuel to reach its destination, then to an alternate airport if required, and additionally enough reserve fuel to allow for 45 minutes of flight at normal cruise speed. This regulation ensures that pilots have sufficient fuel under various circumstances, such as changes in weather or other unforeseen issues that may necessitate diverting or extending the flight.

The inclusion of an alternate is vital because, under IFR conditions, the ability to divert to another airport can become critical if the destination becomes inaccessible upon arrival due to weather or other conditions. The 45-minute reserve provides an additional safety margin, giving pilots extra flight time to mitigate these challenges without a risk of running out of fuel.

This comprehensive fuel requirement underscores the importance of safety in IFR operations and is a standard that all pilots must adhere to for safe flight planning.