FAA Aviation Mechanic General (AMG)Aircraft Drawings, Weight and BalanceHard
A mechanic is completing a new equipment list after installing an avionics upgrade and must update the aircraft's basic empty weight. Which of the following is correctly included in basic empty weight?
- APassengers and their carry-on baggage
- BUsable fuel and the pilot's weight
- CCargo loaded for the flight
- DFull engine oil and unusable fuel
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Full engine oil and unusable fuel
Basic empty weight includes the standard aircraft structure, unusable fuel, full operating fluids such as engine oil (for aircraft certificated to include it), and all installed optional equipment, but excludes usable fuel, crew, passengers, baggage, and payload—these are all part of the useful load.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Passengers and baggage are part of the useful load, not empty weight.
- B. Usable fuel and pilot weight are part of useful load, not basic empty weight.
- C. Cargo is part of the useful load and is added separately for each flight.
Basic Empty Weight (BEW)
The weight of the airframe, engines, all fixed equipment, unusable fuel, and full operating fluids (such as engine oil), excluding usable fuel, crew, passengers, and payload.
- Includes unusable fuel and full oil for many aircraft types
- Excludes usable fuel and all payload items
- Useful load = usable fuel + crew + passengers + baggage/cargo
Memory trick: Basic empty = the bare bird plus its 'stuck-in' fluids, nothing removable