Definition
The total weight of an aircraft at the moment it leaves the ground, including the empty aircraft, fuel, oil, crew, passengers, baggage, and any cargo. Takeoff weight must not exceed the maximum takeoff weight specified in the aircraft's type certificate or flight manual.
Plain English
How much the whole aircraft weighs as it lifts off — the airframe itself plus everything and everyone on board, including all the fuel.
Context Anchor
Seen in weight-and-balance work, aircraft performance charts, and preflight planning before deciding whether the aircraft can safely depart from a runway.
Why Pilots Care
It determines runway length needed, climb performance, and whether the flight can be conducted safely within aircraft limits.
Intuition Check
Takeoff weight is not the empty weight of the aircraft, and it is not just the weight of the load being carried. It is the total aircraft weight for the takeoff, including fuel and everything on board.
Example Sentence 1
After loading the passengers and topping off the fuel, the pilot calculated a takeoff weight of 2,450 pounds — comfortably below the aircraft's 2,550-pound limit.
Example Sentence 2
High density altitude combined with a heavy takeoff weight required a longer takeoff roll than usual.