Basic empty weight (GAMA) includes the standard empty weight plus optional equipment that has been installed.

• A. The standard empty weight plus optional and installed equipment
• B. Maximum takeoff weight
• C. Payload
• D. Fuel and oil

Answer: (A)

Basic empty weight is the aircraft’s weight in its ready-to-operate configuration, including the standard empty weight plus any equipment that has been installed as options. This is the baseline you use to figure how much weight you can add as payload and usable fuel, since it represents the airplane with all fixed installations already in place before loading passengers, baggage, or fuel. The reason this is the best description is that BEW is defined exactly as the standard empty weight plus installed optional equipment, not the maximum allowed weight, not the payload, and not the fuel and oil that will be added later. The other concepts refer to different limits or loads: the maximum takeoff weight is a limit on how heavy you may be at start of takeoff; payload is the weight of crew, passengers, and baggage; fuel and oil are consumables added after securing the aircraft’s basic configuration.