Definition of Basic Operating Weight
 

I'm trying to make sense of a load sheet and understand how the basic operating weight is defined for an aircraft. The definition of the BOW is "Basic operating weight: AC empty weight plus crew, engine oil, potable water, and other items making up the materials required for dispatch".
Question I have are:
1 - Is a standard weight assumed for the crew or is the BOW adjusted for each flight based on the actual crew?
2 - Does the BOW include flight attendants?
3 - Does the BOW exclude cargo equipment such as tie downs, pallets, etc.?
4 - Where could I find the empty weight (i.e. BOW excluding crew, etc.) for a Douglas DC-8-62(F)?
Thanks in advance for answers!

It's usually a standard weight.

Depends on the airline

No. These will be included in the cargo weight. Only the permanent fixtures in the a/c will be included such as locks/stops etc.

No idea.

Think you might get more responses if you put it in another forum such as f/ops/crewing/dispatch, engineering or freight dogs. Not that many spotters would know this info.

:ok:

I think that this also includes in many cases the presumed average wt of the catering uplift and the trolleys etc?

R3500vdp

In all cases you should refer to the Operation Manual/W&B Manual for the aircraft and the airline you are dealing with if you want the correct answer to your question. Although, IATA (the industry) do have standard terms and definitions, their interpretation can vary considerably, as does the make up of the basic operating weight and the other weights you are asking about.

Always check the manual to ensure you get it right. However, I do appreciate that if you had a manual you wouldn't be asking the question I presume.

Are you getting the Basic Weight (BW) and the Dry Operating Weight (DOW) confused? Typically the DOW will include crew and catering, whereas the BW will not.

Here's my take on the questions:

1) There are standard weights for crew (typically 85kgs for flight deck and 75kgs for the cabin crew on European routes) so the DOW will vary based upon the crew make up (i'm not refering to excessive lipstick). Crew weights will vary amongst airlines and routes, and some will have varying weights for male/female cabin crew.

2) BW does not include crew, whereas the DOW does.

3/4) As per Leezyjet

At the carrier that I am at, we calculate the BOW for each flight, depending on the crew complement, catering on board, the Mx Fly Away Kit, etc

Yes, most of the time

The cargo containers are included in the BOW most of the time, but that could be different from carrier to carrier

Ask somebody at ABX Air

Unless a term is defined in legislation or regulation in your area of operation, such terms can mean whatever the user chooses them to mean .. ie, one must ALWAYS refer to the document or supporting documents to find out what is in, or not in, the various operating weights.

Re the DC8 .. a google search showed up this accident report which apparently has some weights for one such machine .. unfortunately, I am on a pretty slow connection tonight so I am not going to bother having a look at the report as it is a large-ish file download. ..