Zero fuel weight is computed by subtracting usable fuel from the gross weight.

Zero fuel weight is computed by subtracting usable fuel from the gross weight.

• A. Total weight including fuel
• B. Total weight minus usable fuel
• C. Fuel weight alone
• D. The weight of passengers and cargo only

Answer: (B)

Zero fuel weight represents the aircraft’s weight with no usable fuel on board. It combines the airframe’s weight (including basic empty weight and any fixed equipment) with the payload (crew, passengers, baggage, and cargo) but excludes usable fuel. To get ZFW from the gross weight, you subtract the usable fuel on board, leaving the weight of the aircraft plus payload without fuel. This is why the correct expression is total weight minus usable fuel. The other options mix in fuel or exclude the airframe and payload, so they don’t describe zero fuel weight.

Zero fuel weight represents the aircraft’s weight with no usable fuel on board. It combines the airframe’s weight (including basic empty weight and any fixed equipment) with the payload (crew, passengers, baggage, and cargo) but excludes usable fuel. To get ZFW from the gross weight, you subtract the usable fuel on board, leaving the weight of the aircraft plus payload without fuel. This is why the correct expression is total weight minus usable fuel. The other options mix in fuel or exclude the airframe and payload, so they don’t describe zero fuel weight.