If BEW increases by 2,000 pounds while MTOW remains fixed, the useful load will

If BEW increases by 2,000 pounds while MTOW remains fixed, the useful load will

• A. Decrease by 1,000 pounds
• B. Remain the same
• C. Increase by 2,000 pounds
• D. Decrease by 2,000 pounds

Answer: (D)

Useful load is what you have left for payload and fuel after you account for the basic empty weight, up to the maximum takeoff weight. The key relationship is MTOW = BEW + Useful Load. When MTOW is fixed, any increase in Basic Empty Weight must come out of the Useful Load to keep the total from exceeding MTOW. So, increasing BEW by 2,000 pounds reduces the amount available for useful load by the same 2,000 pounds. For example, if MTOW is 5,000 lb and BEW is 3,000 lb, Useful Load is 2,000 lb; bump BEW to 5,000 lb and Useful Load drops to 0 lb. Therefore, the useful load decreases by 2,000 pounds.

Useful load is what you have left for payload and fuel after you account for the basic empty weight, up to the maximum takeoff weight. The key relationship is MTOW = BEW + Useful Load. When MTOW is fixed, any increase in Basic Empty Weight must come out of the Useful Load to keep the total from exceeding MTOW. So, increasing BEW by 2,000 pounds reduces the amount available for useful load by the same 2,000 pounds. For example, if MTOW is 5,000 lb and BEW is 3,000 lb, Useful Load is 2,000 lb; bump BEW to 5,000 lb and Useful Load drops to 0 lb. Therefore, the useful load decreases by 2,000 pounds.