Definition
The maximum permissible weight of a loaded airplane (passengers, crew, cargo, baggage, and equipment) without any usable fuel on board, as defined by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Any weight above this figure must consist of usable fuel. The limit exists because fuel carried in the wings provides bending relief that reduces wing-root stress; without that fuel, the structure cannot safely support additional load in the fuselage.
Plain English
The heaviest the airplane is allowed to be when there is no usable fuel on board. After this weight, anything else you add has to be fuel.
Context Anchor
Seen in the weight and balance or limitations section of an airplane’s handbook when checking whether a planned load is allowed.
Derivation
GAMA stands for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, a trade group that publishes standardized weight definitions so that POH terminology is consistent across manufacturers. 'Zero fuel weight' literally means the weight when fuel is treated as zero.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents structural overload when fuel is later added for flight.
Intuition Check
“Zero fuel” does not mean the airplane must have empty tanks for the flight. It means this particular weight limit is checked without counting usable fuel; fuel weight is added after that in the total weight calculation.
Example Sentence 1
After loading the passengers and bags, the dispatcher checked that the airplane was still under its maximum zero fuel weight before adding fuel.
Example Sentence 2
Adding passengers required reducing cargo to remain under maximum zero fuel weight.