Flight Planning and Monitoring
This domain tests fuel planning, mass and balance, performance, alternates and in-flight monitoring for IFR flights, with particular attention to Kenya's high terrain, hot temperatures and widely spaced alternates.
Fuel planning
ICAO IFR fuel comprises taxi fuel, trip fuel, contingency fuel (normally 5% of trip fuel), alternate fuel, final reserve (30 minutes holding at 1,500 ft above the destination) and any extra fuel for forecast weather, icing or rerouting. Nairobi–Mombasa is about 230 NM, so alternate fuel is significant.
Mass, balance and performance
Respect MTOW, MLW, MZFW and CG limits. Density altitude drives take-off and climb performance. JKIA is about 5,330 ft elevation, so hot days reduce runway and climb performance; check obstacle clearance, runway slope and wind.
Weather, NOTAM and alternates
Review TAFs, SIGMETs, winds aloft and freezing level, plus NOTAMs for navaids and runways. Choose an alternate within fuel range and confirm its approach minima and PBN availability.
Worked example
Trip 2 h 10 at 120 kg/h = 260 kg. Contingency 5% = 13 kg. Alternate 30 min = 60 kg. Final reserve 30 min = 60 kg. Taxi = 10 kg. Total = 403 kg. If forecast winds add 20 minutes, add 40 kg before comparing with capacity.
Marks-losing traps
Using 45 minutes final reserve for IFR; ignoring taxi and APU fuel; planning on still-air trip fuel; confusing QNH and QFE; planning to minima with no weather margin; forgetting temperature correction for high-altitude departures.