The empty weight of a vehicle is based on its weight without any
payload (cargo, passengers, usable fuel, etc.).
Aviation
Many different empty weight definitions exist. Here are some of the more common ones used.
GAMA standardization
In 1975 (or 1976 per FAA-H-8083-1B) the
General Aviation Manufacturers Association The General Aviation Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) is the industry trade association representing general aviation (non-military & non-airliner) aircraft manufacturers and related enterprises, chiefly in the United States.General Aviation Manufa ...
(GAMA) standardized the definition of empty weight terms for
Pilot Operating Handbooks as follows:
Standard Empty Weight includes the following:
* Empty weight of the airplane
* Full
Hydraulic Fluid
*
Unusable Fuel In aviation, usable fuel is the fuel on board an aircraft that can actually be used by its engines. The opposite of usable fuel is unusable fuel.Websters dictionary oUnusable fuel visited 19 March, 2012
The unusable fuel figure is calculated for a ...
* Full Oil
Optional Equipment includes the following:
* All equipment installed beyond standard
Non-GAMA usage
Previously (Regarding aircraft certified under CAR Part 3) the following were commonly used to define empty weights:
In this definition Empty Weight includes the following:
* Empty weight of the airplane
* Undrainable Oil
* Full Hydraulic Fluid
Note that weight of oil must be added to Licensed Empty Weight for it to be equivalent to Basic Empty Weight
Ground transportation
In the United States, bridge weight limits for trucks and other heavy vehicles may be expressed in terms of
gross vehicle weight
Vehicle weight is a measurement of wheeled motor vehicles; either an actual measured weight of the vehicle under defined conditions or a gross weight rating for its weight carrying capacity.
Curb or kerb weight
Curb weight (U.S. English) or kerb ...
or empty weight.
See also
*
Zero Fuel Weight The zero-fuel weight (ZFW) of an aircraft is the total weight of the airplane and all its contents, minus the total weight of the usable fuel on board. Unusable fuel is included in ZFW.
For many types of airplane, the airworthiness limitations inc ...
*
Maximum Takeoff Weight
The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) or maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous ...
References
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Aircraft weight measurements
Vehicle law
Trucks