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Maximum Weight Limits
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Aircraft Weights
The weight and distribution of items carried in an airplane has tremendous effect on aircraft
performance and aerodynamic stability. Before an aircraft can safely commence flight the pilot
should consider whether the loading conditions of the airplane are within allowable limits. These
limits are established by the aircraft manufacturer and should have been demonstrated to the
FAA in order to meet airworthiness certification requirements. If the aircraft is loaded within
these limits, it will be stable and controllable during the entire flight envelope. On the other
hand, if the aircraft is improperly loaded and a flight would be commenced, safety and
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performance will be compromised in many ways.

Maximum Weight Limitations

In order to provide safe flight operations, the pilot must maintain the total, or gross, weight of
an airplane at or below maximum limits. These maximum weights are primarily established to
maintain structural integrity of the airframe up to the limit load factors during all phases of
flight. Small, low-powered aircraft are usually restricted by a maximum weight limit specified as
maximum certificated weight, maximum gross weight or simply maximum weight. Larger aircraft,
however, are restricted by maximum weight limits designated for various stages of flight and
ground operations. These weights are commonly referred to as the Maximum Zero Fuel Weight
(MZFW), Maximum Ramp Weight, Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) and Maximum Landing
Weight (MLAW).

Maximum Zero Fuel Weight

Some, and almost all commercial aircraft, have a Maximum
Zero Fuel Weight, which is the maximum amount of weight
of the aircraft without usable fuel. In order to determine
the MZFW, you can simply extract the total amount of
usable fuel on board from the aircraft weight. If, for some
reason, the actual zero fuel weight is higher than the
MZFW, items, other than fuel, must be reduced in order to
reduce the total load. The reason why the MZFW is
established is to determine the maximum weight that can
be carried in the aircraft fuselage. Excessive loading could
result into the wings flexing too far upward when
generating sufficient lift required to keep the aircraft
airborne.

Maximum Ramp Weight Actual Ramp/Taxi Wt.

The Maximum Ramp Weight is specified as the maximum
Actual Zero Fuel Weight
amount the aircraft can weight on the ramp or during taxi.
Obviously, this maximum weight is higher than the
maximum take-off weight in order to provide an allowance + Block Fuel
for the amount of fuel used from engine start until the
take-off roll (called taxi fuel). In some cases, the = Actual Ramp/Taxi Weight
manufacturer uses the term Maximum Taxi Weight,
however, these terms represent the same limitation.

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Maximum Take-off Weight Actual Take-off Weight

The Maximum Take-off Weight is determined as the weight
Actual Ramp/Taxi Weight
of the aircraft as the brakes are released at the beginning
of the runway to start the take-off run. Both for the MTOW
and MLAW, the manufacturer determined that the total - Taxi Fuel
weight of the aircraft permitted for flight may cause
structural damage to the airframe as load limits are = Actual Take-off Weight
exceeded during take-off or landing. It is therefore
important to make sure the fuel consumption during flight
is sufficient to reduce total weight of the aircraft to the
MLAW prior to landing.

http://www.dutchops.com/Plane_Tech/Flight%20Operations/Maximum-Aircraft-Weights.html 26/07/20, 11:37 PM

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 Maximum Landing Weight Actual Landing Weight
The Maximum Landing Weight is, as already pointed out
Actual Take-off Weight
earlier, related to the maximum amount the aircraft may
weigh at touchdown. This restriction is based on the
strength of the landing gear and overall structural fuselage - Trip Fuel
integrity. For weight and balance reasons, the lowest of
these four is used to establish the maximum allowable = Actual Landing Weight
payload.

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