Why would an aircraft use the terminology 'heavy' in their flight call?
Answers:
andy171773 and Lew W gave you almost the right answer.
The ICAO standard is for any aircraft capable of taking off at a gross weight of 300,000 pounds or more to use the term "heavy" in radio communications while below 18,000 feet above sea level. In the US, the threshold for "heavy" is 255,001 pounds or more. The term "heavy" may be omitted after initial contact with ATC.
The key word here is CAPABLE. For example, a Boeing 767-200ER with a maximum take - off weight of 395,000 pounds will always be referred to as "heavy" in air traffic communications, even if it is flying at less than 300,000 pounds.
The terms light, large, and heavy allow air traffic controllers to give the planes adequate clearance for wake turbulence, and to help the controllers asses the maneuverability of the aircraft, their landing speed, which runway they should land on, etc. It has nothing to do with the amount of fuel, passengers, flight phase, etc.
For example, if you hear an aircraft say "Tokyo Tower, this is United one two three heavy" the tower controller knows who the pilot is calling, what airline it is, what their flight number is, and that the plane has a maximum certified gross weight of at least 300,000 pounds. The controller then knows that United Flight 123 is not going to be able to make tight turns while on short final, and also to give other planes flying behind United 123 a little more time to allow the wake turbulence to dissipate.
The Boeing 757 has a maximum take off weight of 255,000 pounds so it fits in the "large" category in both US and ICAO definitions, but the highly efficient wing shape is thought to produce high wake turbulence for other aircraft so to improve safety they are also called "heavy."
i_b_moog is talking about something completely different. Most large or heavy commercial aircraft can take off with more weight than they can land with - it has to do with stress on the airframe and landing gear when landing, and also the stall speed. So if a plane had to make an unscheduled landing at a higher gross weight than their maximum allowed landing weight, they would have to dump fuel before landing. That is a very unusual situation, usually the result of some type of in-flight emergency.
Its to do with the amount of fuel they have left in the tanks!!
On a flight they only take the required amount of fuel to do the journey. If they come in heavy they are required to dump the fuel before landing!!
an aircraft capable of a takeoff weight above 255,000 pounds is a "heavy" aircraft..regardless of whether or not they're actually carrying that much weight
and A/C over 41,000 is "large" in ATC Speak
i hope the first guy's answer will not have people thinking that airliners are spewing fuel all over their city and countryside prior to landing! that is simply ridicules.
The reason for the "heavy" in the flight call is to let ATC know that the aircraft if it is a large aircraft "heavy" as defined in FAA regulations and is near it's gross weight. The controller must take this into consideration when asking the pilot to comply with certain requests that they may issue in separation of traffic, turns, speed reductions, altitude assignments,climb time etc. It may also be a factor in what runway is used as well as taxi routes and parking ramp assignment due to the weight bearing capabilities of the surfaces. Just as a driver of a heavy truck must take precautions in how he drives the truck, a pilot must be careful with a fully loaded aircraft.
Taken from Appendix A of the FAAO 7110.65R "Air Traffic Control"
"AIRCRAFT WEIGHT CLASSES
a. Heavy. Aircraft capable of takeoff weights of more than 255,000 pounds whether or not they are operating at this weight during a particular phase of flight.
b. Large. Aircraft of more than 41,000 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight, up to 255,000 pounds.
c. Small. Aircraft of 41,000 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight."
Any aircraft that is classified as a heavy in this manual must use the word heavy when communicating with airtraffic control on or near the airport, with the exception of the Boeing 757, which also must use "heavy". The use of the word "heavy" may be ommitted when an aircraft is operating within the en route envirnoment, aka "center".
(edited 7/23)
Ray S, those ARE the wake turbulence categories! Heavy Large, Small.please gather your information correctly next time.
I do apologize for not including the ICAO rules as well, however, when international flight enter U.S. Airspace, they will abide by U.S. classifications. Also, in a en route environment, the center generally may omit the use of the term "heavy". There will be certain times where a center controller will want to use "heavy" in an aircraft callsign.
all aircraft weighting 300,000 pounds plus are called heavy
The call "United 123 heavy" would generally mean that the aircraft is both full of fuel and carrying a full passenger load.
It is a class of aircraft.
Irregardless of how much fuel or passengers the plane has a gross weight over a certain weight.(Escapes me now but I can look it up)
It is used to let other pilots know that there are vortices's from their wingtips that are extremely hazardous to small aircraft.
When they land it is worse from the slow flight.
Even if a "heavy aircraft is empty"it still has to call the tower to alert them. So the others are close but.
I am a pilot.
Simple answer all Jumbo Jets must use heavy in their flight calls with ATC
wow, some crazy answers here. In general 757 or larger aircraft are called "heavy".
Wow.why would anyone even bother answering after astarpilot aswered? That was the absolute perfect answer. The other people just danced around the correct answer..
None of the above, it's the wake turbulence category of the aircraft
The guy with the first answer is a scab controller and he is wrong. Have a nice flight
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