How would you describe “payload” in weight and balance?

• A. Payload typically includes fuel.
• B. Payload typically includes the weight of crew, passengers, and baggage (the load carried beyond BEW, excluding usable fuel).
• C. Payload is BEW.
• D. Payload is only cargo.

Answer: (B)

Payload is the load the aircraft carries beyond its basic empty weight, and it excludes usable fuel. It includes the weight of crew, passengers, baggage, and cargo—the items added to the airplane after BEW. When you add this payload to the basic empty weight, you get the zero fuel weight. Usable fuel is added separately to reach the gross takeoff weight. So, the payload is not fuel, and it’s not just cargo; it’s all the weight carried beyond BEW, excluding usable fuel.