Which statement correctly defines Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW)?

• A. ZFW = BEW + payload
• B. ZFW = payload − BEW
• C. ZFW = BEW × payload
• D. ZFW = payload ÷ BEW

Answer: (A)

Zero Fuel Weight is the weight of the airplane with everything except usable fuel loaded. It combines the Basic Empty Weight with the payload. BEW is the aircraft’s fixed weight (the airplane plus fixed equipment), while payload is the weight of passengers, baggage, and cargo. Since fuel isn’t included in ZFW, you simply add BEW and payload to get ZFW. That’s why ZFW = BEW + payload is the correct expression.

For example, if BEW is 78,000 pounds and payload is 12,000 pounds, ZFW is 90,000 pounds. After you plan fuel, the takeoff weight increases by the fuel weight, but ZFW stays as the BEW plus payload total. The other arithmetic options don’t reflect how ZFW is defined, since they either subtract or multiply/divide BEW and payload, which don’t correspond to a meaningful aircraft weight in the zero-fuel scenario.