What is the domestic fuel requirement?

• A. Enough fuel to fly to the destination, to the most distant alternate, then 45 minutes beyond
• B. Enough fuel to fly to the destination, then 30 minutes beyond
• C. Enough fuel to land with 15 minutes reserve
• D. Enough fuel to reach the nearest alternate only

Answer: (A)

Domestic fuel planning requires enough fuel to fly to the destination, to the most distant suitable alternate, and then to fly for 45 minutes at holding speed beyond that. That 45-minute reserve acts as a safety buffer for weather delays, holding patterns, or unexpected diversions, so you’re not left with insufficient fuel if plans change or if you must delay landing.

This is why the best answer matches exactly: you plan to reach the destination, then have enough fuel to reach the farthest reasonable alternate, and finally carry an extra 45 minutes of fuel. The other options don’t meet this standard: one option stops after the destination with only 30 minutes of reserve, another proposes just 15 minutes of reserve, and another only accounts for reaching the nearest alternate. Those do not provide the required 45-minute reserve or address the need to plan for the most distant suitable alternate, both of which are essential for domestic operations.