How do you plan en-route fuel stops and diversions for a typical NetJets itinerary on the Longitude 700?

• A. Plan diversions based solely on the next waypoint without regard to fuel or weather.
• B. Rely on ATC to determine diversions with no pilot planning.
• C. Avoid reserves and proceed to the destination regardless of remaining fuel.
• D. Evaluate alternate airports, fuel availability, weather conditions, and range; plan reserves and contingencies.

Answer: (C)

En-route fuel planning means building a plan that keeps a safe margin no matter what happens on the way. You don’t just look at the next waypoint; you assess the whole journey, including likely headwinds, possible diversions, and what fuel you’d need if you had to stop somewhere else.

In practice, you estimate fuel burn for each leg, account for winds, and identify suitable alternates along or near your route that have fuel availability and acceptable conditions. You then ensure you have enough fuel to reach an alternate, plus the final reserve, and any contingencies for unexpected situations (like a longer hold, routing changes, or weather delays). This creates a practical, executable plan that keeps you within safe operating limits and regulatory expectations, even if conditions change.

Relying on ATC to determine diversions without your own planning reduces the available margin and shifts the safety envelope onto external factors. Planning to proceed to the destination with marginal or no reserves is unsafe and violates standard fuel-management practices. Planning diversions based solely on the next waypoint, without considering fuel or weather, similarly ignores the bigger picture of turning points and contingencies that protect you and your passengers.