What A/C weight is "Heavy"?

[snoopy_1]

What is the weight that determines if the aircraft is a Heavy, at least I think it's the weight that determines this.

Snoopy One Heavy

 

[gnx99]

MGTOW >=255,000 lbs

Edit:

Actually a plane capable of that weight, not necessarily loaded to that much.

 

[snoopy_1]

I guess that means Snoopy One is not a heavy, wait how big of engine can we get on it, and some more helium maybe.

 

[jspilot]

Just learned that in my ATC class at college. Greater than 255,000 lbs

 

[THE Flying Ace]

If you are talking strictly about aircraft, it is heavier than 12,500 lbs.

The 255,000 lbs figure must be the classification for ATC seperation standards.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

255,000 and larger is a "Heavy".

12,500 and larger is a "large aircraft"

12,500 lb "Large aircraft" is for Type rating requirments.

255,000 is for in trail spacing.

The 757 is not a "Heavy" for call sign purposes but is given Heavy spacing by ATC due to its strong wake turbulance.

 

[THE Flying Ace]

Thanks for the clarification for myself.

 

[rudderdog]

255,000 and larger is a "Heavy".

12,500 and larger is a "large aircraft"

12,500 lb "Large aircraft" is for Type rating requirments.

255,000 is for in trail spacing.

The 757 is not a "Heavy" for call sign purposes but is given Heavy spacing by ATC due to its strong wake turbulance.

Not exactly true. ATA has 757-200's with a MTOW of 255,500 and 757-300's with a MTOW of 270,000 ..... they are all "heavy" aircraft for call sign and atc purposes.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Well you got me there, I did not think about the newer 75's with the higher gross weight. I was speaking from an FAA definition point of view.

 

[EagleRJ]

The FAA boundary between large and heavy used to be 300,000 MGTOW, but they changed it to include the 757 (ALL 757s, as far as I know) due to the 757 wake turbulance issues.