When researching aviation terms, you may encounter payload. It plays an important role in the safety, fuel efficiency and performance of modern airplanes. Regardless of size, all airplanes have a payload. Pilots and engineers must closely monitor the airplane’s payload to ensure it’s not too much.
Overview of Payload
The term “payload” is used to describe the total weight of everything an airplane carries minus the airplane itself. It’s typically calculated by taking the maximum allowable weight of an airplane and subtracting the airplane’s empty weight. The end result is the payload, which represents the weight of everything the airplane carries except for the airplane itself.
Factors that affect an airplane’s payload include the following:
- Passengers and crew
- Baggage
- Equipment
- Freight cargo
- Fuel (may or may not be factored into payload)
Why Payload Is Important
An airplane’s payload is a balancing act. Commercial airlines and charter companies typically want to maximize their revenue by filling their airplanes as much as possible. But the greater the payload weight, the more fuel the airplane will burn — and fuel adds weight to the airplane as well. Therefore, commercial airlines and charter companies must achieve a balance between filling their airplanes while ensuring safe, fuel-efficient flights.
Payload affects the range of airplanes. Range, of course, represents the maximum distance an airplane can fly. The greater an airplane’s payload weight, the shorter its range will be. Airplanes with a full payload typically fly shorter distances than those with a partial payload. This is why airplanes with long routes often fly with fewer passengers and less cargo than those with short routes.
Payload also affects takeoffs and landings. A heavy payload means the airplane will need more runway space to take off and land. If the weather is hot, the airplane will need even more runway space. These are just a few reasons payload is important.
Payload and Safety
Airplanes have weight limits for safety purposes. These limits are set by regulatory aviation bodies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe.
Commercial airlines typically calculate the weight and balance of their airplanes prior to takeoff. If an airplane is too heavy — or the weight is unevenly distributed — it won’t take off. Only after achieving a safe and properly distributed weight will airlines give it the green light to take off.
