Definition
The total weight of the aircraft at the moment it touches down, equal to the takeoff weight minus the fuel burned during the flight. It includes the airframe, crew, passengers, baggage, cargo, and the fuel still remaining in the tanks at landing.
Plain English
What the airplane actually weighs when it lands, after some fuel has been used up on the way.
Context Anchor
Seen in weight-and-balance planning, especially when checking whether the airplane will be within its allowed landing weight for a planned flight.
Derivation
Actual comes from Latin words meaning something real or done. In this term, it means the real weight for this specific flight, not a general estimate or a book example.
Why Pilots Care
Confirms the aircraft stays within structural limits and runway performance requirements for a safe landing.
Grounding Statement
As fuel burns, the airplane gets lighter; actual landing weight is the weight left when the wheels touch down.
Intuition Check
Actual does not mean the maximum allowed weight. It means the specific weight the airplane has at landing for this flight.
Example Sentence 1
After a three-hour cross-country, the actual landing weight was 2,450 pounds — well below the maximum landing weight listed in the POH.
Example Sentence 2
The crew checked that the actual landing weight remained below the runway's maximum allowable limit.