"Bingo fuel" meaning

[El Cid Av8or]

I've always wondered what exactly "bingo fuel" means. I know it's when the tanks are getting low but how low? I suppose it's different for every aircraft too?

Thanks.

 

[InHot]

Bingo?

Don't know the derivation of the term - however it means:

Time to go to your divert/alternate field. Will vary with aircraft type and, of course distance (fuel required to your alternate/divert field).

 

[pilotyip]

Boat Stuff

Where I heard the term most often was around the boat, say we were in the Pacific Ocean off of San Diego and a jet, like an A-4 would have bingo fuel of 1.5K, and say NAS North Island was the bingo field. When the A-4 got down to 1.5K he would declare bingo, basically a low fuel emergency, and be instantly cleared direct NAS North Island unrestricted climb in full power to a critical altitude, this altitude being based upon distance from boat to bingo field, i.e. 75 NM's FL 270, from which they would then make a flight idle descent into the pattern. Where this really became a problem was when the bingo field was a long distance and the max landing fuel was close to the bingo fuel, maybe get one or two passes before you had to bingo. Assuming no tanker support.

 

[BMD]

bingo

In P-3's, we'd often have a long transit (2-3 hours) over water just to get to our operating area. We'd calculate our bingo based on the mileage to get home and our known fuel flow. That would include a reasonable reserve (usually 8k lbs) to use for a divert in the event of wx. Hope that helps. BMD

 

[MercuryPilot]

More on Bingo Fuel

We normally calculate it using a Max, Best, or Specific Range chart vice an Endurance chart. The term is usually associated w/a mission that involves loitering on station so you'll know when it's time to head back.

TACAIR guys can weigh in on the use of "bingo" in regards to the boat.

 

[ExAF]

Like the USAF Fighter Weapons School graduates would always say....It Depends! For the fighter community, a Bingo fuel is nothing more a pre-determined fuel state. It is usually preceded by "Joker" fuel. The most common use of these two radio calls (Joker and Bingo) was to inform your fellow flight members of your fuel state in one word. The quantity of fuel was determined and briefed by the flight lead/mission commander and would have different meanings/significance depending on the mission. It was very common for the Joker fuel to be the fuel which signified that it was time to "disengage" from a fight on your own terms and make a tactical egress before reaching Bingo. It might also be a preset fuel state above Bingo so that the flight lead would know that Bingo was approaching and could plan accordingly. Bingo was usually a fuel state that meant it was time to go home NOW! Stop doing what you are doing and put home on the pointy end of the plane. Happy New Year!

 

[Toro]

Bingo fuel, in a tactical sense, is the fuel at which time you need to terminate the mission and return the base of intended landing with appropriate fuel reserve. It will vary depending on the type of aircraft you're flying, how far you are from your landing base, and the weather at that base. For example, if you are maneuvering in a MOA right near your base, you would only need a little extra gas to get you back to the FAF/initial with the appropriate 11-202 reserves. However, if you're in a MOA that's 50-100 miles away (which is often the case here in England), you'll have to have enough fuel to get home. Then, if the weather at your base is crap (which is often the case here in England), then you have to carry arrive with enough fuel to be able to divert if the weather goes below mins.

Example for the Strike Eagle - AFI 11-202 says that we have to be at initial with 2500 pounds of fuel. If I'm in the MOA 50 miles away and it requires about 2000# of fuel to get home, my bingo is 4500 pounds. Now, if I have an alternate mandating that I arrive at the FAF with, for example, 6900 pounds, my bingo is now 8900 pounds.

 

[El Cid Av8or]

Thanks for all the excellent replies. I guess in fighter terms it would be one time when you don't want to go into the big afterburner stages on the throttle. I had never heard of "joker" before and that one makes sense too.

Happy New Year!

 

[Pintarski]

A few more tidbits of info

Ah yes, "bingo on the ball." Never a good thing to hear, especially when you are the tanker. We always prided ourselves on not letting folks get that low. If a plane is bingo on the ball, things have gone wrong in several places. All these things change when you are blue water ops - no divert in range. Bingo is no longer an option. Instead of bingo plus 2 passes, bingo plus one pass, etc. - its tank plus 2, tank plus 1 etc. That being said tank is not the same as bingo.

 

[justApilot]

or for you civilian guys...the fuel required to get to your alternate plus your reserve fuel.