Which of the following statements about fuel management for flight operations is correct?

Fuel management is a critical component of flight operations, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations. The correct statement regarding fuel management is that fuel calculations must include planned trip, contingency, and reserve fuel.

In aviation, careful fuel planning is mandated to ensure that an aircraft has a sufficient amount of fuel not only to reach its destination but also to account for unexpected variables such as diversions, delays, and holding patterns. The planned trip fuel is the amount needed for the direct flight to the destination, while contingency fuel is a buffer to cover any unforeseen circumstances that could arise during the flight. Reserve fuel serves as an additional safety net, as it is required to maintain operations should the primary fuel calculations fall short.

This comprehensive approach to fuel calculations aligns with safety regulations and guidelines, ensuring that the flight can be completed without running into fuel shortages. Hence, the inclusion of all three components—planned trip, contingency, and reserve fuel—in the fuel calculations is essential for safe flight operations.