The empty weight of an airplane is determined by which method?

• A. Subtracting the tare weight from the scale reading and adding the weight of each weighing point.
• B. Adding the net weight of each weighing point and multiplying the measured distance to the datum.
• C. Subtracting the tare weight from the scale reading only.
• D. Multiplying the measured distance from each weighing point to the datum by the sum of scale reading less the tare weight.

Answer: (A)

Determining the empty weight requires isolating the airplane’s actual mass from the weighing gear. When you weigh the airplane on multiple scales, each scale shows the combined load of the aircraft portion on that scale plus the scale’s own weight (the tare). To find how much of the aircraft’s weight is on each point, subtract the tare of that scale from its reading. Then add those net weights from all weighing points together. The sum gives the total aircraft weight, which, under an empty-condition scenario (no fuel, cargo, or passengers), is the empty weight.

This approach is correct because weight from all contact points adds up, and removing the tare from each point ensures you’re counting only the aircraft’s weight, not the scales’ weights. The other ideas describe moments or rely on a single measurement, or introduce extraneous factors, which don’t yield the actual aircraft weight.