In the context of aircraft design and operations, “disposable load” refers to the total weight of items or cargo that can be carried by an aircraft in addition to its own empty weight (airframe, engines, avionics, etc.) and fuel. This includes passengers, cargo, baggage, and any other items carried on the aircraft for a specific flight. The disposable load is an important consideration for aircraft weight and balance calculations.
The formula for calculating the disposable load () is relatively straightforward:
- is the disposable load (typically in kilograms or pounds).
- {Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)} is the maximum weight at which the aircraft is allowed to take off (typically in kilograms or pounds).
- {Empty Weight} is the weight of the aircraft without passengers, cargo, or fuel (typically in kilograms or pounds).
- {Fuel Weight} is the weight of the fuel carried on the aircraft (typically in kilograms or pounds).