Skip to main content
Aviation glossary

Payload

What is payload?

Illustration related to payload
Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Payload is the weight of everything you're carrying for a purpose: passengers (occupants), baggage, and cargo. It does not include the aircraft itself or the fuel and oil needed to fly. Think of it as the "revenue" weight—the people and things you actually want to transport.

Studying for an FAA written test?

Terms like payload show up on the FAA knowledge test. Study them in context with ACS-aligned practice questions, AI explanations, and the cited FAA handbook reference behind every answer — free to start.

Learn more in the library

Related terms

Browse the full glossary →