FAA Instrument Rating Written Practice Test

The specific fuel requirement for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight at night is designed to ensure that pilots have adequate fuel to reach their intended destination safely, even in the event of, for example, unforeseen circumstances or delays. The correct answer specifies that a pilot must have enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and then continue for an additional 30 minutes at normal cruising speed.

This requirement is essential for night flying due to the additional challenges presented, such as reduced visibility and increased difficulty in navigating compared to daytime operations. The 30-minute reserve allows for unexpected conditions or emergencies that may arise, providing a safety margin that is particularly important during nighttime operations when terrain and obstacles can be harder to identify.

In contrast, other options do not align with the established regulatory standard for night VFR operations. For instance, the requirement for 45 minutes of additional fuel would exceed what is mandated and may not be practical in many flight scenarios. Therefore, having fuel for the initial leg plus a 30-minute buffer is the established and necessary criterion for safe VFR night operations.