A fuel order on the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) provides pilots with detailed information about the amount of fuel required for a specific flight. Pilots can use the EFB to request additional fuel if required for the journey and provide a reason for the extra fuel. 

Fuel orders on the EFB are generated based on the operational flight plan, considering factors like flight distance, aircraft weight, and forecasted weather conditions. 

The skybook EFB automatically incorporates the minimum fuel requirement from the OFP, streamlining the flight briefing process further.

Fuel order history

Did you know that pilots can also view the aircraft fuel order history for their current sector? 

There are a few reasons why this is useful…

• Access to historical fuel orders allows pilots to verify current and previous fuel orders and consumption.
• Reviewing fuel orders can provide insights into fuel efficiency across different routes and conditions, helping pilots and operations teams make data-driven decisions for future flights.
• Many regulatory requirements stipulate maintaining fuel records for auditing purposes. Having an accessible fuel order history simplifies this process and ensures compliance with aviation authorities.

Completed aircraft fuel orders are then synced to skybook flight dispatch on the Ground Portal, allowing dispatchers to view them in sector status updates.

The fuel order data is also included in the flight summary dashboard, providing an audit trail and ensuring compliance for the airline.
 

Adjustment-based fuel orders

An Adjustment-based Fuel Order version allows pilots to view extra information from the OFP, with planned fuel figures and options to increase or decrease the Taxi and Discretionary fuel separately, and select an alternate airfield. 

Why pilots need extra fuel

Pilots might request additional fuel for several reasons to ensure safety, operational efficiency, and compliance. Common reasons may include:

Weather Conditions
Unforeseen weather, such as strong headwinds, thunderstorms, or low visibility at the destination, can require extra fuel for potential delays or alternate airport routing.

Air Traffic Delays
Anticipated delays from air traffic control (ATC), especially in congested airspace or busy airports, may require additional fuel to account for potential holding patterns or extended taxiing times.

Diversion Requirements
Enroute diversion possibilities due to restricted airspace, active military zones, or volcanic activity can make additional fuel necessary.

Increased Holding Requirements
If there is a known NOTAM awareness issue at the destination, such as congestion or a temporary runway closure, pilots might plan to hold longer and thus request extra fuel.

Safety Margin
Occasionally, pilots request additional fuel as an extra safety margin, giving them flexibility to handle unplanned events with more assurance.

Aircraft Performance Considerations:
Aircraft weight & balance, expected performance limitations, or unusual cargo may prompt pilots to request additional fuel as a contingency.

Operational Policy or Company Standards:
Some airlines might have specific policies that encourage or require a certain buffer of additional fuel for certain types of flights, destinations, or conditions.

Who reviews additional fuel orders?

Several parties might need to review a pilot’s reasoning for requesting additional fuel, depending on the context: 

• Dispatch and OCC monitor fuel decisions, balancing cost and safety while ensuring the flight can operate as planned. Dispatchers are often directly involved in approving or advising on fuel adjustments.
• The co-pilot might review the reasoning with the captain, as they jointly make safety-related decisions for the flight.
• If additional fuel affects the flight plan, ATC may be informed of changes to ensure they align with airspace capacity and scheduling.
• In rare cases, especially if the additional fuel is for safety or if it impacts regulations, aviation authorities may need a report or documentation.
• Many airlines have safety departments or fuel efficiency teams that monitor fuel use. Additional fuel requests might trigger a review if the airline is tracking fuel costs closely.
• Sometimes, fuel is added due to anticipated delays from weather or minor technical issues, so maintenance teams may be involved if there are concerns about aircraft performance.

Regardless of the decision on fuel orders, the pilot’s choice is logged within skybook to support safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance, and can be reviewed in post-flight reports and analyses.

If you’d like to learn more about skybook or experience it first-hand, please don’t hesitate to reach out.