Definition
A standard column heading on an IFR navigation log used to record three planned values for each leg of a flight: the time expected to fly the leg, the distance of the leg in nautical miles, and the fuel expected to be burned during the leg. These values are calculated during preflight planning and updated in flight as actual conditions are observed.
Plain English
Three numbers a pilot writes down for every segment of a flight: how long it will take, how far it is, and how much fuel will be used. Together they let the pilot check that the flight is going as planned.
Context Anchor
Seen on flight-planning forms, navigation logs, and route-planning figures when preparing or checking an instrument flight.
Why Pilots Care
These calculations let pilots confirm fuel reserves, update ETAs, and decide whether to continue or divert while still airborne.
Intuition Check
Do not read these as three separate, unrelated labels. In flight planning, time, distance, and fuel work together: distance and speed give time, and time helps determine fuel needed.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot filled in the time, distance, and fuel column on the nav log for every leg of the route.
Example Sentence 2
Checking time distance fuel showed enough reserve remained to reach the alternate airport.