Contingency Fuel

Contingency Fuel is the amount of fuel carried to compensate for unforeseen factors that could increase fuel consumption beyond the planned trip fuel — such as weather deviations, ATC routing changes, stronger headwinds, or holding at the destination. It is a mandatory component of fuel planning.

• Typically calculated as 5% of trip fuel (or 5 minutes of holding fuel, whichever is greater)
• Statistical methods or 3% may be used by operators with approved fuel monitoring programs
• Cannot be used to compensate for known factors — those require extra fuel
• Part of the minimum fuel calculation per ICAO Annex 6