Hobbies And Interests
Flight Plan
Prior to a flight, the pilot submits detailed information to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) such as the number of people on board, contact information, plane identifying information, estimated times of departure/arrival, expected length of flight and amount of fuel on board (in hours). Pilots flying by use of instruments (IFR) are required to submit flight plans while those flying by visual means (VFR), are only encouraged to file flight plans. Air carriers, agencies, such as the military and Civil Air Patrol, international flights and others, may have their own requirements in addition to the FAA.
Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) / Aircraft Performance Charts
For each plane, the manufacturer will have Cruise (gallons per hour) and Rate of Climb (includes warm up and take off) performance charts. From these charts, the pilot can derive the anticipated fuel burn for a given power setting and weight.
Fuel Consumption
The distance that a plane can fly at a given power setting is the Maximum Distance. The maximum time that a plane can fly is the Maximum Duration. A pilot must estimate the fuel needed to make the destination given the distance and wind speed / direction, along with the data from the Rate of Climb and Cruise performance charts.
Reserve Fuel
The FAA requires fixed wing IFR flights to have enough fuel that they can make it to an alternate airport and still have enough fuel to fly for an additional 45 minutes at cruise speed. VFR flights require enough fuel to make the alternate airport and be able to fly for an additional 30 minutes (day) and 45 minutes (night) at cruise speed. Additional rules may apply to air carriers, military, international flights, extended flights over water, among others.
Factors Affecting an Aircraft's Performance
A plane's performance is affected by density altitude (barometric pressure, altitude, humidity and temperature). The denser the atmosphere, the more efficiently the plane performs. With lower density, the plane loses engine power, propeller thrust and wing lift. A plane's take off and cruise performance is affected by its weight. A heavier plane produces more drag and uses more fuel.
Other Considerations
A pilot can improve fuel consumption by properly leaning the fuel mixture, choosing an altitude where the wind is not a negative influence, and using a conservative engine power setting.