The useful load of an aircraft is the difference between which two weights?

• A. The maximum takeoff weight and basic empty weight.
• B. Empty weight and maximum landing weight.
• C. Basic empty weight and gross weight.
• D. Fuel weight and payload.

Answer: (A)

Useful load is the weight available beyond the basic empty airplane to carry people, baggage, and fuel. It comes from subtracting the basic empty weight from the maximum takeoff weight. Basic empty weight is the aircraft with standard equipment and fluids, but without usable fuel or payload. Maximum takeoff weight is the upper limit allowed for takeoff. So, MTOW minus BEW equals the useful load—the amount you can allocate to payload and fuel. For example, if BEW is 10,000 lb and MTOW is 14,000 lb, the useful load is 4,000 lb, which you can split between passengers/baggage and fuel as needed. The other options don’t fit because they don’t represent the defined difference between MTOW and BEW, or they refer to components rather than the total usable capacity.