What should be added to the BOW and FOB to determine the ZFW?

To determine the Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW), the calculation involves adding the Basic Operating Weight (BOW) and the Payload. The Basic Operating Weight includes the aircraft's empty weight plus any mandatory items like crew, fuel, and oil necessary for operation, while the Payload consists of passengers, luggage, cargo, and any other load the aircraft is carrying.

The ZFW is critical in flight planning as it helps determine the weight of the aircraft at which the fuel load can be considered without affecting structural limits. By adding the Payload to the BOW, you get the total weight of the aircraft without any fuel on board, which is why identifying the correct elements to be included in this calculation is essential for safe and compliant flight operations.

In this context, other choices do not contribute to the calculation of the ZFW. The Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) is the maximum weight allowed for takeoff, which does not factor into the ZFW calculation. Including FOB (Fuel on Board) would incorrectly add fuel weight to the ZFW, which is contrary to the definition. Thus, including the Payload correctly identifies the components needed to compute the ZFW.