Flight Planning and Monitoring
Planning sequence
Build the IFR plan from route, levels, wind and temperature, then apply mass and performance limits. Use the ATS route structure and AIP Kuwait, check NOTAMs, then compute trip fuel, contingency, alternate, final reserve and taxi. Confirm takeoff, en-route, landing and approach minima.
Fuel policy
A typical turbine IFR fuel plan includes taxi fuel, trip fuel, contingency fuel (often 5% of trip fuel), alternate fuel, final reserve (30 minutes at holding speed), and any additional fuel for known delays or icing. The ramp fuel includes taxi; takeoff fuel does not. Check MTOW, MLW and MZFW after fuel is added, not before.
Worked example
A 2.0 h leg burns 800 kg/h. Taxi 20 kg; contingency 5% of trip; alternate 30 min; final reserve 30 min. Trip = 1600 kg; contingency = 80 kg; alternate = 400 kg; final reserve = 400 kg; taxi = 20 kg. Ramp fuel = 2500 kg. Takeoff fuel = 2480 kg. If MTOW limits takeoff fuel to 2400 kg, reduce payload or replan; do not simply drop the final reserve.
Traps
Use ground speed, not TAS, for time and fuel. Apply wind to each leg. Do not count contingency as a reserve you may burn to destination. Do not use the destination forecast outside the ETA window. Check units: kg versus litres, hPa versus feet.