Simviation Forums

I just spent the last 1.5 hrs flying my MD80 from KATL to KIAH. I loaded up the fuel figuring my amount using FSX flight planners estimate. The departure was by the book and it was a great flight untill... I began to worry about the fuel that was left and figured I would have exactly enough to get there even though I may have to be towed into the gate. Well I was 3 freekin miles out from KIAH on final and had to take her down in a neighborhood. I watched in total frustration as the PAPI lights sank into the horizon. I braced myself for impact holding tightly onto by beer. Now being the type of person that I am I WILL have to try it again obviously with more fuel. My question is, how do I go about planning better for fuel. Sure it is easy to filler up but that takes away from the whole experience?

Jim

I braced myself for impact holding tightly onto by beer.

HAHAHA I love it!

I have taught my self to get the amount that is needed...and then some more. Usually(as said above) about a extra 30 minutes of fuel. If you are flying over a large body of water, add a extra 45 minutes. But, that is just what I do.

The default planner is quite inacurate when it comes to fuel planning. My recomendation is to do a lot of flying in one aircraft, and closely observe the fuel consumption. After a little while, you will start to figure it out

Alsom I guess you have to take into consideration the risks of opposite winds, which would slow you down and thus increase your fuel consumption.

Take the estimate that the FS flight planner gives you and increase it by 30 min for the flight time, or about 15% for fuel.

All the planner does is give you what you will *most likely* encounter and does not add a reserve for fuel or account for wind. Also, it's always short on the ETE of the flight, by about 30 min.  I often use FS passengers and have often landed within 1 minute of my estimated time of arrival by adding 30 min to whatever FS gave me. Good 30 extra points right there  ;)

Military fuel reserve reqirements were (early 90s) for IFR flight plan - planned enroute fuel plus enough to fly to your planned alternate plus 20 minutes.  I am assuming that GA has something similar.

In real world you must have enough fuel to fly to your destination, then to your alternate, then 45 minutes past that, including planning for winds.  As the others have said though, the fuel planner on FS is not very accurate, and doesn't allow for much reserve.

Here's the REAL QUESTION!!!
In the real world, would you fly with a Captain that added no extra fuel for vectoring, circling?  weather re-routes???
If so, you're far too much a risk taker....

YUK, YUK!!