What should you do if there is a discrepancy between planned and actual fuel quantities?

• A. Recalculate weight and balance, adjust the plan, and inform dispatch of changes; ensure remaining fuel meets minima.
• B. Ignore any differences and proceed with the plan.
• C. Return to base immediately.
• D. Only adjust the plan if the discrepancy exceeds 5%.

Answer: (A)

When you find a mismatch between planned fuel and what’s actually on board, you must reassess before flight. Recalculate weight and balance using the actual fuel quantity, then refresh the performance data and the flight plan to reflect the new fuel state. After that, inform dispatch so the release matches the real situation. Most importantly, verify that the remaining fuel still meets the minimum requirements for the trip, including reserves and any alternate planning. If the updated plan doesn’t meet those minima, you can’t proceed as planned—you’d need to refuel or adjust the route/alternates to regain legal, safe footing.

Ignoring the difference isn’t acceptable because fuel directly influences weight, balance, and performance. Simply continuing or returning to base automatically isn’t the default action; the correct course is to recompute, update, and confirm minimums are met, making changes as needed.