What is meant by the maximum zero fuel weight of an aircraft?

• A. The maximum permissible weight of a loaded aircraft.
• B. The maximum permissible weight of a loaded aircraft (passengers, crew, cargo, etc.) less its fuel.
• C. The maximum takeoff weight.
• D. The weight limit when there is zero fuel in the tanks.

Answer: (B)

Maximum zero fuel weight is the maximum permissible weight of an aircraft when it carries its payload but has no usable fuel on board. This value reflects the structural and balance limits the aircraft must meet with payload alone, before any fuel is added. In practice, you calculate ZFW by summing the empty weight plus passengers, crew, and cargo, and you do not include fuel in that sum. Only after reaching this limit do you add fuel, up to the total permissible takeoff weight. This separation ensures that the wing and fuselage are not over-stressed by payload alone, while fuel weight can be added later to reach the final takeoff weight. So the maximum zero fuel weight is best described as the maximum permissible weight of a loaded aircraft less its fuel.