Fuel exhaustion and fuel starvation are two of the most preventable causal factors leading to incidents in the general aviation community. Tom Turner, Manager of Technical Services for the American Bonanza Society and leading instructor for FlightSafety, Bonanzas international pilot training program, has dedicated a significant effort to understanding what factors lead to this seemingly simple, but dangerous piloting mistake.

The first step in understanding how to minimize fuel-related mishaps is to understand the difference between fuel exhaustion and fuel starvation. Fuel exhaustion occurs when the engine simply runs out of fuel, either by a misjudgment of initial fuel levels or a misjudgment of fuel endurance over a given duration. Fuel starvation occurs when fuel, though available in the tank, is either fully or partially prevented from reaching the engine. A common cause of fuel starvation, for example, is water-contaminated fuel. Join Aero-TV as Turner explains what the general aviation community can do to minimize their risk of a fuel-related incident.

As a Master CFI and renown safety expert, Tom Turner holds a Masters Degree in Aviation Safety. With over 3,500 hours in the air, including over 2,200 hours as an instructor, Turner spends his time lecturing and instructing across the country on aviation safety.

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