DADE Load Planning & Weight and Balance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is Maximum Zero Fuel Weight (MZFW)?
- The maximum allowable weight of an aircraft without any usable fuel (Correct answer)
- The maximum weight of the aircraft at takeoff
- The maximum weight of fuel that can be loaded
- The weight of the aircraft without passengers or cargo
Correct answer: The maximum allowable weight of an aircraft without any usable fuel
MZFW is the maximum certificated weight of an aircraft without usable fuel; any weight above MZFW must consist of usable fuel.
Question 2: The Center of Gravity (CG) envelope defines which of the following?
- The range of approved fuel tank locations on the aircraft
- The acceptable forward and aft limits within which CG must remain for safe flight (Correct answer)
- The maximum structural weight limits certified for the aircraft
- The location of the aircraft's aerodynamic center of lift
Correct answer: The acceptable forward and aft limits within which CG must remain for safe flight
The CG envelope specifies the certified forward and aft limits within which the aircraft's center of gravity must fall to ensure safe, controllable flight.
Question 3: Basic Operating Weight (BOW) is best described as:
- The weight of the aircraft structure and engines only
- The maximum takeoff weight minus usable fuel
- The weight of the aircraft including crew, unusable fuel, and operational equipment but excluding payload and usable fuel (Correct answer)
- The empty weight of the aircraft as delivered from the manufacturer
Correct answer: The weight of the aircraft including crew, unusable fuel, and operational equipment but excluding payload and usable fuel
BOW includes crew, unusable fuel, oil, and all standard operational equipment but excludes payload and usable fuel.
Question 4: In weight and balance, payload is best defined as:
- The total weight of usable fuel loaded for the flight
- Revenue-generating load including passengers, baggage, and cargo (Correct answer)
- The weight of flight crew and their equipment
- The structural weight of seats and cabin furnishings
Correct answer: Revenue-generating load including passengers, baggage, and cargo
Payload refers to the revenue-generating portion of the load — passengers, checked baggage, and cargo carried for hire.
Question 5: What is the primary concern when an aircraft's CG approaches the forward limit?
- Reduced fuel efficiency due to increased drag
- Increased nose-up attitude causing passenger discomfort
- Reduced elevator effectiveness and higher control forces required for rotation (Correct answer)
- Increased risk of tail strike during cruise
Correct answer: Reduced elevator effectiveness and higher control forces required for rotation
Near the forward CG limit, the elevator must work harder to raise the nose, requiring greater control forces at rotation and potentially increasing stall speed.
Question 6: A dispatcher calculates that an aircraft will exceed its Maximum Landing Weight (MLW) at the destination. What is the most appropriate corrective action?
- Approve the flight and authorize the crew to handle it operationally
- Plan a fuel burn-off holding pattern or jettison procedure to reach MLW before landing (Correct answer)
- Increase payload to redistribute weight and lower the effective landing weight
- Declare an emergency to receive authorization for an overweight landing
Correct answer: Plan a fuel burn-off holding pattern or jettison procedure to reach MLW before landing
When MLW will be exceeded, the dispatcher must plan for fuel jettison (if equipped) or a holding pattern to burn fuel down to or below MLW before landing.
Question 7: Operational Empty Weight (OEW) differs from the manufacturer's empty weight in that OEW includes:
- Only the weight of permanent structural components
- Operator-specific items such as galley equipment, crew members, and company-installed modifications (Correct answer)
- Passenger weight calculated using standard weights
- Maximum fuel capacity of all tanks
Correct answer: Operator-specific items such as galley equipment, crew members, and company-installed modifications
OEW adds operator-specific items — galleys, crew, life vests, manuals, and modifications — on top of the manufacturer's basic empty weight.
DADE Load Planning & Weight and Balance 1
What is Maximum Zero Fuel Weight (MZFW)?