Definition
The quantity of fuel that has been burned by the engine over a given period of flight, typically measured in gallons or pounds. It is the running total of fuel used since engine start or since a chosen reference point, and is the basis for calculating fuel remaining and endurance.
Plain English
The amount of fuel the airplane has already burned. Subtract this from what you started with to know how much you have left.
Context Anchor
Used in flight planning, fuel checks, and night flying decisions when a pilot compares planned fuel use with the fuel still available.
Derivation
“Fuel” means material used to produce power, and “consumed” comes from a Latin idea meaning “used up.” In aviation, that helps because fuel consumed is fuel that has been used and is no longer available for the rest of the flight.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate knowledge of fuel consumed determines remaining range, endurance, and whether the aircraft will be within landing weight limits.
Intuition Check
Do not read “fuel consumed” as the fuel still on board. Fuel consumed means fuel already used; fuel remaining means fuel still available.
Example Sentence 1
Halfway through the night cross-country, the pilot calculated fuel consumed against the planned burn rate to confirm reserves were still adequate.
Example Sentence 2
Preflight planning included estimating the fuel consumed for the return leg so the aircraft would land with the required reserve.