Which of the following can provide the empty weight of an aircraft if the weight and balance records become lost or inaccurate?

• A. Referring to the most recent permit
• B. Reweighing the aircraft
• C. Estimating from the manufacturer’s data
• D. Reading the fuel gauge

Answer: (B)

To know the current empty weight when weight-and-balance records are lost, you need to reweigh the aircraft on a certified scale. Empty weight is the aircraft’s weight with all fixed equipment and standard operating fluids installed, but without payload or usable fuel. The actual weight can drift over time due to changes in configuration, repairs, added equipment, or varying fluid levels, so old records may no longer reflect the true empty weight. Reweighing gives you the real current weight and the corresponding moment, enabling you to reconstruct accurate W&B data for safe loading.

Relying on manufacturer data or a recent permit may provide a helpful baseline, but they can be outdated or not reflect the present configuration. Estimating from those sources can introduce significant errors. Reading the fuel gauge only shows onboard fuel, not the aircraft’s empty weight.