It's a minimum - not a modus operandi.
As such, it isn't supposed to get you to a perfect runway -
it's supposed to provide you the opportunity to find somewhere safe to
land.

Safety conscious pilots would not, as a matter of routine, consistently
plan to land after a cross country with 30 minutes of fuel.

Tony

--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

In article Uyrre.28604$rb6.27678@lakeread07,
Chris W wrote:

Isn't this 30 *minute* reserve rule for day VFR flight a bit odd? Here
are 2 examples to illustrate why I say that. In a J3 Cub you are going
to go just over 35 miles in those 30 minutes. In an RV-7, you can go
100 miles with that same 30 minutes reserve. If there is a head wind
the difference is going be even greater. Both airplanes need about the
same length runway, yes I know the cub can land in less space, but both
need less than 1000 feet. Wouldn't a reserve rule that stated the
minimum distance you could fly in calm air be a better rule?




--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE