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ADX · 15% of the exam

Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance practice questions

10 free Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance questions for the Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX) Knowledge Test exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question ADX quiz

What this domain covers

The transport aircraft as a dispatcher sees it: major systems, dispatching with inoperative items under the MEL and CDL, takeoff and landing performance, and weight and balance.

Exam weight
15%
On a real exam
≈ 12 questions
In our bank
91 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Minimum equipment list and configuration deviation list
  • Takeoff speeds, balanced field length and climb limits
  • Landing distance and runway condition effects
  • Weight limits and centre of gravity in percent MAC
  • Effects of altitude, temperature and contamination on performance

How to study it

Practise a full weight and balance problem, including a shift in centre of gravity, alongside a performance check; questions often combine weight limits with runway and climb limits.

Sample Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    How does an aft CG usually affect Vmc in a multiengine airplane?

    • AIt has no effect on Vmc
    • BIt lowers Vmc
    • CIt raises Vmc
    • DIt eliminates Vmc
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) It raises Vmc

    • AIncorrect. CG affects Vmc.
    • BIncorrect. A forward CG lowers Vmc.
    • CCorrect. The rudder's moment arm is shorter.
    • DIncorrect. Vmc still exists.

  2. Question 2

    Besides runway length and climb requirements, which limits often restrict maximum takeoff weight at a high-elevation airport on a hot day?

    • ATire speed limits and brake energy limits, because ground speeds are higher
    • BFuel freeze-point limits, because fuel temperature rises during ground operation
    • CMaximum cabin differential pressure limits, because field elevation is higher
    • DGround minimum control speed (VMCG) limits, because VMCG rises with elevation
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Tire speed limits and brake energy limits, because ground speeds are higher

    At hot, high airports the same indicated speeds mean higher ground speeds. That makes tire speed and brake energy limits more likely to restrict takeoff weight, along with runway length and climb limits.

    • ACorrect. In thin, hot air, a given indicated airspeed means a higher true airspeed and ground speed. That can exceed the tire speed rating at liftoff or the energy the brakes can absorb in a rejected takeoff, so takeoff weight must be reduced.
    • BIncorrect. The fuel freeze point matters for cold-soaked fuel at high cruise altitudes. It doesn't limit takeoff weight on a hot day.
    • CIncorrect. Cabin differential pressure is a structural limit for pressurized flight. It isn't a takeoff weight limit at a high-elevation airport.
    • DIncorrect. VMCG goes down as engine thrust drops at high density altitude, so hot, high conditions make it less restrictive, not more.

  3. Question 3

    What is pressure altitude?

    • AAltitude shown with the altimeter set to 29.92
    • BAltitude above the ground directly below
    • CAltitude corrected for temperature
    • DAltitude above the highest obstacle
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Altitude shown with the altimeter set to 29.92

    • ACorrect. It's used in performance charts.
    • BIncorrect. That's AGL.
    • CIncorrect. That's density altitude.
    • DIncorrect. That isn't pressure altitude.

  4. Question 4

    As fuel is burned from tanks forward of the CG, how does the CG move?

    • AIt doesn't move
    • BForward
    • CAft
    • DSideways only
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Aft

    • AIncorrect. Burning fuel shifts the CG.
    • BIncorrect. Removing forward weight moves the CG aft.
    • CCorrect. Removing weight forward shifts the CG aft.
    • DIncorrect. It moves fore and aft.

  5. Question 5

    Which items are included in an airplane's basic empty weight?

    • AUnusable fuel and full operating fluids such as oil and hydraulic fluid
    • BPassengers and their checked and carry-on baggage
    • CAll usable fuel loaded for the planned flight
    • DCargo and mail carried in the lower holds
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Unusable fuel and full operating fluids such as oil and hydraulic fluid

    Basic empty weight includes the airplane with fixed equipment, unusable fuel and full operating fluids (14 CFR 25.29). Usable fuel and payload (passengers, baggage, cargo, mail) are not included.

    • ACorrect. Under 14 CFR 25.29, empty weight is determined with fixed ballast, unusable fuel, and full operating fluids (oil, hydraulic fluid, and other fluids required for normal operation). Basic empty weight builds on this.
    • BIncorrect. Passengers and their baggage are payload. They are added to the empty and operating weights to get takeoff weight.
    • CIncorrect. Only unusable fuel is included. Usable fuel is added separately as part of the fuel load.
    • DIncorrect. Cargo and mail are payload, not part of basic empty weight.

  6. Question 6

    Engine anti-ice on most jets uses:

    • AHydraulic fluid
    • BBleed air
    • CDeicing boots
    • DGlycol spray
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Bleed air

    • AIncorrect. It uses bleed air.
    • BCorrect. Hot air heats the inlet lip.
    • CIncorrect. Boots are typical on turboprop wings.
    • DIncorrect. It uses bleed air.

  7. Question 7

    A 90,000-lb airplane has its CG at 300 in. Adding 2,000 lb at 400 in moves the CG to about:

    • A310.0 in
    • B298.0 in
    • C302.2 in
    • D300.0 in
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) 302.2 in

    • AIncorrect. That overstates the shift.
    • BIncorrect. The CG moves toward the added weight, aft.
    • CCorrect. New moment ÷ new weight = 27,800,000 ÷ 92,000.
    • DIncorrect. Adding weight aft moves the CG.

  8. Question 8

    A zero fuel weight of 120,000 lb plus 55,000 lb of fuel gives a ramp weight of:

    • A175,000 lb
    • B165,000 lb
    • C65,000 lb
    • D185,000 lb
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 175,000 lb

    • ACorrect. 120,000 + 55,000.
    • BIncorrect. Recheck the addition.
    • CIncorrect. Add, don't subtract.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the addition.

  9. Question 9

    How does an aft CG affect an airplane?

    • AIt increases stall speed
    • BIt increases stability
    • CIt reduces stability
    • DIt has no effect on controllability
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) It reduces stability

    • AIncorrect. A forward CG raises stall speed.
    • BIncorrect. A forward CG increases stability.
    • CCorrect. Recovery from stalls can be harder.
    • DIncorrect. An aft CG reduces stability.

  10. Question 10

    How does stall speed change in a 2 G turn?

    • AIt stays the same
    • BIt doubles
    • CIt decreases by half
    • DIt increases by about 41%
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) It increases by about 41%

    • AIncorrect. Load factor raises stall speed.
    • BIncorrect. The increase is the square root of 2.
    • CIncorrect. It increases.
    • DCorrect. Stall speed rises with the square root of load factor.

Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance: FAQs

How much of the ADX exam is Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance?

Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance is 15% of the ADX exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 80-question form works out to roughly 12 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance domain cover?

The transport aircraft as a dispatcher sees it: major systems, dispatching with inoperative items under the MEL and CDL, takeoff and landing performance, and weight and balance.

How should I study Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance for ADX?

Practise a full weight and balance problem, including a shift in centre of gravity, alongside a performance check; questions often combine weight limits with runway and climb limits.

Where can I practise more Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance questions?

This page has 10 free Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance questions with answers. The ExamWize ADX question bank has 91 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other ADX topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the ADX cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance exam-ready

The full ADX bank has 91 Aircraft Systems, Performance and Weight and Balance questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

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Not affiliated with FAA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.