The useful load of an aircraft consists of the

• A. crew, usable fuel, passengers, and cargo
• B. crew only
• C. fuel and oil
• D. structure weight

Answer: (A)

Useful load is the portion of the airplane’s weight that can be added on top of the empty weight to reach takeoff weight, and it consists of everything carried for flight that isn’t fixed structure or equipment. This includes the crew and passengers, their baggage or any cargo, and the usable fuel needed for the flight. The airplane’s structure weight is part of the empty weight, and oil isn’t counted as part of the useful load. So the description that lists crew, usable fuel, passengers, and cargo matches the definition.