Fuel Reserves for Aircraft

Abstract

In 1955, following certain discussions within the Technical Committee, arising largely from a suggestion put forward by Mr. A. J. Moline, a member of the Australian Institute of Navigation, the Institute decided to set up a Working Party to go into the philosophy underlying current practices of fuel reserve calculation for aircraft. Because it would have been inappropriate for the Institute to attempt to lay down any sort of recommended code of practice, the Council paid particular attention to the precise terms of reference of the Working Party. It was agreed that its function would be: ‘To examine the requirement for reserve fuel and the factors governing its determination; to ascertain whether common parameters obtain, and to assess their application to future aircraft operation’.The Chairman of the Working Party, and author of the following report, which has been discussed and agreed by the other members, was Mr. Jack Vivian, of British European Airways Corporation. The other members were Captain R. C. Alabaster (British Overseas Airways Corporation), Wing Commander D. Bower (Royal Air Force), Wing Commander M. C. Bunting (Royal Air Force), Mr. D. O. Fraser (English Electric Aviation Limited), Mr. J. P. Meade (Meteorological Office), Mr. J. E. D. Williams (then of El Al Airlines), and Mr. D. A. Blake (Ministry of Aviation). All members served in a personal, not an official capacity.The report has been forwarded to the Aeronautical Research Council of the Ministry of Supply.