What is Fuel Uplift and Why Should You Care?
Fuel uplift calculation is essential for aviation operations. It determines how much fuel can be safely added to an aircraft while respecting weight limitations. Understanding fuel uplift ensures safe flights, regulatory compliance, and efficient fuel management.
Proper fuel uplift calculations balance safety, efficiency, and costs for airline operators and pilots.
How to Calculate Fuel Uplift
The formula for maximum fuel uplift is:
[\text{Max Fuel Uplift} = (\text{Flight Planned Fuel Burn} + \text{Max Allowable Landing Weight}) - \text{Zero Fuel Weight} - \text{Fuel On Board}]
Where:
- Flight Planned Fuel Burn is the total fuel expected to be consumed during the flight
- Max Allowable Landing Weight is the maximum permitted weight at landing
- Zero Fuel Weight is the aircraft weight without any fuel
- Fuel On Board is the current amount of fuel in the aircraft
Calculation Example
Given (in pounds):
- Flight Planned Fuel Burn: 100,000 lbs
- Max Allowable Landing Weight: 320,000 lbs
- Zero Fuel Weight: 250,000 lbs
- Fuel Already On Board: 30,000 lbs
Calculation:
[\text{Max Fuel Uplift} = (100{,}000 + 320{,}000) - 250{,}000 - 30{,}000]
[\text{Max Fuel Uplift} = 420{,}000 - 280{,}000 = 140{,}000 \text{ lbs}]
The maximum fuel uplift is 140,000 lbs.
Unit Conversion
| Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|
| 100,000 | 45,359 |
| 320,000 | 145,152 |
| 250,000 | 113,398 |
| 140,000 | 63,503 |