How do I determine the right amount of Fuel for my Trip?

[David Vega]

In the non-virtual world, you would get the appropiate amount of fuel from the dispatcher. It would still be up to you to add more fuel if you want to increase your comfort factor. Feel free to post under which conditions you would add more fuel.

The following paragrah is for those that like reality-based operations, if you only enjoy getting on the jet and fly, skip it please. Today, SAX pilots pretend the dispatch information is what we see on each flight, including amount of fuel, load, flight level, etc. But most of those flights, and thus the figures, were made for subLOGIC's ATP airplanes. Yet today we mostly use MS Flt Sim. On top of that, the airplane type we use could also be different from ATP's. For example, ATP gave us 737-250, 767-200, 747-300, A320, etc. Today, SAX operates some 737-200 (with JTD-15A engines), B737-400 (this mostly to satisfy the crowd that only wants to fly default airplanes), and B737-700. Clearly the fuel figures in the existing flights wouldn't make sense for each type of 737. In some instances, we could find fuel tables for each model 737, and if you have them, please share and post them, but you could also rely on automation.

There are several automated tools available for your use. The one I would recommend first is Boeing 737 Fuel Planner. This tool asks you for information about the flight, tells you how much fuel should be loaded, and if you have FSUIPC (the free version would do) loads the fuel for you at the press of a button. You can find the tool here: http://www.volny.cz/fs2002/B737FPL/B737FPL.htm . This tool offers fuel figures for all B737 models. If you use PMDG 737s, you could use the tool above, or you could also use one called Boeing 737 NG Fuel Planner. This one gets data from you, and even reads the load from the jet, and loads the fuel. It's only for 737-600, 700, 800, and 900. It is at http://www.metacraft.com/737NGFP/ .

But I also fly the A320, MD83, 767, and 747. Where do I find fuel tools for those Feel free to post replies to this question. I'll add my replies later.

Dave, SAX702

[David Vega]

Like with the B737, there are several tools available to help automate computing how much fuel would be necessary for a B767 flight. SunAir Expess is virtually using the B767-300ER model. ATP's ficticious subLOGIC airline was using the B767-200. Believe we may still have some of those old one for FS9 around.

For automatic fuel computations, two options come to mind:

First is 767 Quick Fuel Planner (QFP). This is the simplest to use, just enter flight distance and distance to your alternate airport, and you get:
Taxi fuel burn
Alternate fuel burn
Enroute fuel burn
Reserve fuel
Holding fuel
Extra fuel
Total fuel

QFP will also calculates the fuel distribution in the fuel tanks.

Please note: total fuel is the MINIMUM FUEL for the flight. This version doesn't calculate weights, speeds, performances, neither any other data. It also doesn't automatically load the fuel for you.

The second is JetPlan767. This is an MS Excel spreadsheet that ask you for more information than the previous one, but also provides you with more, to include takeoff performance.

You can find both of these utilities at http://www.pic767flyingclub.com/downloads1.html.

Of course, you could also use a fuel table. The best one I've seen is here: http://www.smartcockpit.com/. Click on Boeing 767 on the left column, and then scroll down the page until you see Instructor's Corner. In that column there's a link labeled B767 Fuel Table.

Do you know of any other one? Feel free to contribute.

Dave Vega, SAX702

[Pylet]

This is some very important information. There have been many instances where major airlines have run out of fuel in flight. In fact there was a movie done about one where the ground crew got confused on the conversion of lbs to kgs and ended shorting an aircraft on its fuel needed. It ended up flamming both engines out and the pilot, a glider pilot off duty, did an outstanding job of dead sticking the aircraft on a vacant drag strip in Canada.

It's good heads down flying looking at those fuel quantities and grounds speed to be sure you are on the correct fuel useage curve for your flight.

Keep Em Safe,
Lyle

[David Vega]

Here are some other tools that helps calculate fuel load for:

MD83
http://webx.simpilot.net:8080/cgi-bin/W ... @.3c80a551

A320
http://webx.simpilot.net:8080/cgi-bin/W ... @.3c7fbebc

Use with care. If you know of any other tools that are publicly available, please post away.

Have fun,

Dave Vega