Definition
A standardized definition of empty weight, adopted by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), used by airplane manufacturers when reporting weight in aircraft documents. It is the weight of the airframe, engines, and all installed equipment that has fixed locations and is permanently installed in the airplane, including fixed ballast, hydraulic fluid, unusable fuel, and full engine oil. It does not include usable fuel, passengers, baggage, or cargo.
Plain English
It is the weight of the airplane itself, with everything that is built in or always there, but with no people, baggage, cargo, or usable fuel on board. The engine oil tank is full, and any fuel that cannot actually be burned is included.
Context Anchor
Seen in airplane weight-and-balance information, especially when calculating whether the aircraft is within its allowed weight limits before a flight.
Derivation
GAMA stands for General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the industry group that standardized this definition so that all manufacturers report empty weight the same way. Before GAMA's standard, different manufacturers included or excluded different items, which made comparisons confusing.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a consistent starting point for calculating takeoff weight, center of gravity, and performance limits to maintain safe flight.
Intuition Check
“Empty” does not mean the airplane has no fuel, oil, or installed equipment. Here, it means the airplane without the load you add for the flight: people, baggage, and usable fuel.
Example Sentence 1
Before adding passengers and fuel, the pilot started the weight-and-balance calculation with the standard empty weight listed in the POH.
Example Sentence 2
Using the GAMA definition ensured the standard empty weight figure matched the one listed in the airplane's weight and balance records.