What does "Bingo" denote concerning fuel?

The term "Bingo" in the context of fuel typically refers to a pre-briefed fuel state that is necessary for recovery to the home station or base. It signifies that the aircraft has reached a predetermined fuel level that indicates it must return to base or seek recovery because it does not have sufficient fuel for prolonged operations or further missions. This term is often established during mission planning, enabling pilots to know when they should prioritize returning to ensure they have enough fuel to land safely.

In contrast, the other terms represent different fuel statuses. The emergency fuel reserve level signifies a critical threshold that indicates extreme low fuel, whereas minimum fuel for active engagement refers to the amount necessary to sustain combat operations. Full fuel capacity available indicates the maximum amount of fuel the aircraft can carry, which is unrelated to operational fuel states.