what is useful load in airplanes
9 Answers. The empty weight is the weight of the airplane including anything that is permanently attached to it and includes any un-drainable fluids. There is a maximum gross weight for takeoff and on larger aircraft there may be a maximum landing weight. The useful load is the difference between the maximum gross weight and the empty weight. To the empty weight, you have to add the fuel, oil, any other fluids, pilot and passengers, and baggage.