Minimum Fuel Declaration

What is a Minimum Fuel Declaration?

A minimum fuel declaration is made when a flight crew determines that, based on current routing and clearances, any additional delay or change could result in landing with less than the planned final reserve fuel. This is typically declared when all alternate options are exhausted, and the aircraft is committed to landing at a specific aerodrome.

When to Declare Minimum Fuel

Declare 'MINIMUM FUEL' to ATC when:

• All alternate aerodrome options are no longer available.
• Calculations show that any further delay or rerouting could result in landing with less than the final reserve fuel.
• The aircraft is committed to a specific destination and cannot accept further holding or rerouting without compromising fuel reserves.

Minimum Fuel vs Mayday Fuel

• Minimum Fuel: Notifies ATC of a critical fuel situation, but is not an emergency. It does not guarantee priority handling, but ATC will advise of any expected delays.
• Mayday Fuel: If calculations show that landing with less than final reserve fuel is unavoidable, declare 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY FUEL'. This is a fuel emergency and triggers immediate priority handling.

How to Make the Radio Call

• Use the phrase: "Minimum Fuel" (e.g., "Brussels Control, ABC123, Minimum Fuel").
• If the situation worsens and final reserve fuel will be breached, use: "Mayday Mayday Mayday, ABC123, Fuel."

Operational Context

Minimum fuel declaration is a key part of in-flight fuel management. It ensures that both the flight crew and ATC are aware of the limited fuel margin, allowing for informed decisions and risk mitigation. It is essential to distinguish between minimum fuel (a warning) and a Mayday fuel (an emergency).