Subchapter 9.3 – Minimum Fuel Declarations

Detailed minimum fuel declaration example:

You are descending into your destination, Zurich, at Flight Level 80. En route, you encountered severe headwinds that reduced your ground speed significantly. You are now 50 minutes from Zurich. Your fuel computations show:

Current fuel: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Descent and approach reserve: 20 minutes
Fuel on arrival at Zurich: 50 minutes
Required legal reserve: 45 minutes at destination + 15 minutes to alternate
Your margin: 50 minutes minus 45 minutes (destination) = 5 minutes

You have only 5 minutes of discretionary fuel. This is minimum fuel.

Call: "Zurich Approach, HB-CDA, minimum fuel."

ATC responds: "HB-CDA, Zurich Approach, roger, minimum fuel. Continue descent, expect ILS Runway 28 without delay."

You receive priority landing. No holding, no vectors away from the aerodrome.