What is considered an essential part of pre-flight checks concerning fuel?

Ensuring adequate fuel levels in both tanks is critical for safe flight operations. During pre-flight checks, pilots must verify that there is enough fuel to complete the planned flight plus reserves, which is essential for preventing fuel exhaustion during flight. This involves not only checking the quantity in each tank visually or through gauges but also confirming that fuel is correctly balanced between tanks to maintain proper aircraft handling characteristics and performance.

While checking overall aircraft weight, analyzing fuel types, and inspecting the fuel filter are important aspects of aircraft preparation, they do not directly address the immediate necessity of having sufficient fuel for the flight. Adequate fuel levels directly correlate with flight safety and the operational capability of the aircraft, making it the foremost concern during pre-flight checks.