Definition
The total quantity of usable fuel on board an aircraft at the time of departure, including fuel required for the planned flight plus reserves for diversion, holding, and unforeseen contingencies.
Plain English
How much fuel is actually in the tanks for a flight — enough for the trip itself, plus extra to handle delays or a change of destination.
Context Anchor
Used during preflight planning, risk assessment, fuel planning, and takeoff performance checks.
Why Pilots Care
Directly determines whether the aircraft stays within maximum gross weight and affects takeoff distance, climb performance, and landing weight.
Intuition Check
Do not think of fuel carried as only “enough to get there.” In aviation, it also means extra usable fuel for delays or changes, and the added weight that fuel puts on the aircraft.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot reviewed the fuel carried against the planned route and confirmed there was enough for the flight plus a one-hour reserve.
Example Sentence 2
Reducing fuel carried allowed the pilot to take an extra passenger while remaining within the approved weight limits.