AMT Aircraft Weight and Balance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum zero fuel weight (MZFW)?
- The maximum allowable weight of the aircraft without usable fuel (Correct answer)
- The aircraft weight after all fuel is burned in flight
- The minimum weight at which the aircraft can fly
- The empty weight minus fuel tank weight
Correct answer: The maximum allowable weight of the aircraft without usable fuel
Maximum zero fuel weight is the maximum allowable weight of the aircraft and its contents, excluding usable fuel.
Question 2: When weighing an aircraft, tare weight refers to:
- The weight of chocks, jacks, or equipment placed on the scales that must be subtracted (Correct answer)
- The total weight measured on all scales combined
- The weight of unusable fuel and oil
- The aircraft's empty weight before equipment is added
Correct answer: The weight of chocks, jacks, or equipment placed on the scales that must be subtracted
Tare weight is the weight of any equipment (chocks, blocks, etc.) placed on the scales during weighing that must be subtracted to get the actual aircraft weight.
Question 3: A moment of 150,000 in-lbs divided by a total weight of 2,000 lbs gives a CG of:
- 75.0 inches (Correct answer)
- 80.0 inches
- 65.5 inches
- 90.2 inches
Correct answer: 75.0 inches
CG = total moment ÷ total weight = 150,000 ÷ 2,000 = 75.0 inches from the datum.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT included in the aircraft's basic empty weight?
- Usable fuel (Correct answer)
- Unusable fuel
- Full engine oil
- Hydraulic fluid
Correct answer: Usable fuel
Basic empty weight includes the airframe, engines, fixed equipment, unusable fuel, and full oil, but NOT usable fuel which is part of useful load.
Question 5: An aircraft is weighed and shows 800 lbs on the nose wheel scale and 600 lbs on each main gear scale. What is the total aircraft weight?
- 2,000 lbs (Correct answer)
- 1,600 lbs
- 1,800 lbs
- 2,400 lbs
Correct answer: 2,000 lbs
Total weight = nose gear + left main + right main = 800 + 600 + 600 = 2,000 lbs.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a weight and balance record that accompanies the aircraft?
- To document all changes that affect the weight or CG of the aircraft (Correct answer)
- To list all passengers and their weights
- To specify the fuel load for each flight
- To track scheduled maintenance intervals
Correct answer: To document all changes that affect the weight or CG of the aircraft
The aircraft weight and balance record documents all equipment changes, repairs, or modifications that alter the aircraft's empty weight or CG location.
Question 7: When the datum is located at the nose of the aircraft, all moments will be:
- Positive, because all arms are measured aft of the datum (Correct answer)
- Negative, because weight acts downward
- Both positive and negative depending on location
- Zero at the firewall
Correct answer: Positive, because all arms are measured aft of the datum
With the datum at the nose, all fuselage stations are measured aft, giving positive arm values and therefore positive moments for all standard locations.
AMT Aircraft Weight and Balance 3
What is the maximum zero fuel weight (MZFW)?