What is the role of fuel gauges in an aircraft?

Fuel gauges in an aircraft primarily serve the critical function of providing the pilot with information about the quantity of fuel available in the tanks. This is essential for flight planning, ensuring that the aircraft has sufficient fuel for the intended journey and allowing for safe operational decisions. Accurate fuel quantity readings help pilots monitor fuel consumption during flight, manage their fuel reserves, and plan for refueling.

The other options suggest roles that are not aligned with the function of fuel gauges. Regulating fuel pressure is typically managed by fuel pumps and engines systems, rather than by gauges. Measuring oil temperature is related to engine monitoring and would be indicated by separate instruments, not fuel gauges. Finally, while fuel consumption can relate to altitude performance, altitude itself is measured by altimeters, and fuel gauges do not provide direct information regarding altitude in relation to fuel use.