Which statement is true about maximum zero fuel weight?

• A. It includes usable fuel.
• B. It is identical to maximum takeoff weight.
• C. It is the minimum aircraft weight.
• D. It excludes usable fuel.

Answer: (D)

Maximum zero fuel weight is the weight limit of the aircraft with payload and structure but with no usable fuel on board. This concept sets how heavy the aircraft can be independent of the fuel it carries. It excludes usable fuel, because fuel weight is accounted for separately when determining the actual takeoff weight. In other words, the takeoff weight can be higher than the zero fuel weight due to the fuel carried for the flight, and the relationship is MTOW = MZFW + usable fuel. That’s why the true statement is that it excludes usable fuel. The other options don’t fit: including usable fuel would not be zero fuel weight; being identical to maximum takeoff weight would ignore fuel needed for flight; and being the minimum aircraft weight describes the empty weight, not the maximum zero fuel weight.