Maximum Landing Weight

MLW (Maximum Landing Weight) is the maximum weight at which the aircraft is certified to land, determined by the structural strength of the landing gear, wing spar, and fuselage. Landing above MLW increases stress on the structure and may require a mandatory maintenance inspection.

For long-range flights, the aircraft may take off significantly heavier than MLW (with full fuel). The fuel burned during the flight brings the weight below MLW by arrival. If an early return is needed, the aircraft may need to dump fuel, hold to burn fuel, or accept an overweight landing (which triggers an inspection).