FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Aircraft Performance and Weight and BalanceMedium
A twin-engine transport's landing weight at the destination is limited not by field length, but by the requirement to achieve a positive climb gradient during a go-around with one engine inoperative. This weight limitation is known as the:
- AField length-limited landing weight
- BClimb-limited (approach-climb) landing weight
- CStructural landing weight limit
- DMaximum zero fuel weight
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Climb-limited (approach-climb) landing weight
The climb-limited landing weight, based on the approach-climb (missed-approach) gradient requirement with one engine inoperative, ensures the airplane can execute a safe go-around and climb away even after an engine failure, and is one of several factors that may limit maximum permissible landing weight.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Field length limits are based on runway distance available, not climb gradient.
- C. Structural landing weight limit is a certificated maximum unrelated to engine-out climb capability.
- D. Maximum zero fuel weight is a structural limit unrelated to climb performance.
Climb-Limited Landing Weight
The maximum landing weight at which the airplane can meet the required approach-climb gradient with one engine inoperative during a go-around.
- Ensures safe missed-approach climb performance
- One of several possible landing weight limitations
- Other limits include field length and structural maximum landing weight
Memory trick: 'Climb-limited = can't climb, can't land heavy'