Which document defines the maximum zero fuel weight?

• A. Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM)
• B. Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS)
• C. Airworthiness Directive (AD) Manual
• D. Maintenance Manual

Answer: (B)

Maximum zero fuel weight is a fixed design limit tied to the aircraft’s structural certification. It defines the maximum weight the airplane may have with no usable fuel on board while still staying within its certified structural limits. This limit is published in the Type Certificate Data Sheet for the aircraft, which lists the certified weights such as maximum takeoff weight, maximum landing weight, and maximum zero fuel weight. The Aircraft Flight Manual provides day-to-day operating data and weight-and-balance details for planning and crew procedures, but the official MZFW value comes from the Type Certificate Data Sheet. Airworthiness Directives and the Maintenance Manual cover regulatory compliance and maintenance procedures, not the certified weight limits. So the document that defines the maximum zero fuel weight is the Type Certificate Data Sheet.