Which statement differentiates payload capacity from load weight?

• A. Payload capacity is the aircraft's maximum lift; load weight is the weight of the actual cargo.
• B. Load weight is the weight of the cargo.
• C. Payload capacity refers to the weight of the cargo.
• D. Load weight is the weight of the aircraft.

Answer: (A)

Payload capacity focuses on the upper limit: it is the maximum weight of payload the aircraft can carry given its design and operating constraints. In practice, this limit is tied to what the wings can lift and how the weight of the aircraft, fuel, and payload balance within allowable loading. Load weight, on the other hand, is the actual weight of the cargo and other payload items that are loaded for a specific flight.

So, the statement that payload capacity is the aircraft’s maximum lift captures the idea that payload capacity defines the maximum payload that can be lifted, while load weight is simply what is actually loaded. For example, if the payload capacity is 5,000 lb and you load 3,800 lb, the load weight is 3,800 lb and you’re using a portion of the available payload capacity.

The other options mix up what is being measured: load weight is not the weight of the aircraft, and payload capacity is not the weight of the cargo itself but the maximum amount of cargo the aircraft can carry.