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What does the empty weight of an airplane include?

Choices

  • ✓ The airframe with operating fluids but no useful loadcorrect

    Empty weight is the airplane with unusable fuel and full operating fluids, minus the useful load.

  • The airframe plus full fuel and one pilot

    Fuel and pilot are part of the useful load, not empty weight.

  • The maximum weight the airplane may be loaded to

    That is the maximum gross weight, not the empty weight.

  • The airframe with no fluids of any kind

    Empty weight includes operating fluids and unusable fuel.

Why

Empty weight is the airplane with its unusable fuel and full operating fluids installed but without the useful load (pilot, passengers, usable fuel, baggage).

FAA source: FAA-H-8083-1 Ch. 1browse the reference library →

This is taught in Weight and Balance Fundamentals — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

What does the empty weight of an airplane include? · PPL Free Ground School