Which item is typically NOT included in the 'empty weight' calculation?

The 'empty weight' of an aircraft is a critical measurement that reflects the weight of the aircraft when it is in a ready-to-fly state, excluding fuel and payload. This weight includes various components that are essential for flight, including the operating equipment and any installed systems.

Passengers are typically not included in this calculation because the 'empty weight' is meant to represent the aircraft's weight devoid of any variable factors that would change with each flight, such as the weight of passengers and cargo. Instead, passengers and their baggage are considered as part of the payload, which is assessed separately when calculating weight and balance before a flight.

Operating equipment, which includes items such as avionics, emergency equipment, and other necessary systems for the aircraft to function, is included in the empty weight, as is any incomplete installation item that might be permanently affixed to the aircraft. Unusable fuel, which refers to the fuel that cannot be drawn from the tanks for use in flight, is also considered part of the empty weight.

By excluding passengers from the empty weight calculation, the focus remains on the fixed, necessary components of the aircraft that contribute to its basic operational status, providing a baseline measurement for pilots to work from when considering the total weight capacity for a