What is the minimum contingency fuel?

• A. 5 min
• B. 10 min
• C. 2 min
• D. 15 min

Answer: (A)

Contingency fuel is a small extra cushion added to the planned fuel to cover unforeseen factors like weather changes or ATC delays. The practice uses a floor: you must carry at least five minutes of contingency fuel, even for short trips. This minimum provides a basic safety margin without adding unnecessary extra fuel. In many guidelines, contingency fuel is calculated as a percentage of trip fuel, but it can’t be less than five minutes, so the minimum remains five minutes. That’s why five minutes is the correct answer.