Taxi Mass in aircraft design refers to the total mass of the aircraft, including passengers, cargo, and fuel, at the moment when the aircraft is taxiing on the ground. It’s an important parameter for ground operations and may vary from the takeoff or landing mass due to fuel burn during the flight. Here’s the formula, definition, and SI unit for Taxi Mass:
Formula for Taxi Mass: The formula for calculating taxi mass is the same as the landing mass and takeoff mass. It’s the sum of the aircraft’s empty weight (EOW or OEW), the mass of passengers and cargo (payload), and the mass of fuel on board at the moment when the aircraft is taxiing. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
- Taxi Mass: The total mass of the aircraft, including passengers, cargo, and fuel, at the moment when the aircraft is taxiing on the ground, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- Empty Weight (EOW or OEW): The weight of the aircraft without any payload or fuel, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- Payload: The combined weight of passengers, cargo, and any additional items carried on board, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).
- Fuel at Taxi: The mass of fuel carried on the aircraft at the moment when it is taxiing on the ground, typically measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).