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Aviation glossary

MLW

Maximum Landing Weight · Also: maximum landing weight, MLM

Weights and performance

Maximum weight at which an aircraft is certified to land, determined mainly by the strength of the landing gear and the airframe.

What it is

Touching down puts a considerable load on the landing gear and structure, and the MLW ensures this stays within design margins. It is lower than the maximum take-off weight because an aircraft takes off heavy and lands lighter, having burnt fuel along the way. On a long flight the difference can amount to many tonnes.

Flight planning respects both limits: the take-off weight must comply with the MTOW and also allow the aircraft to reach its destination below the MLW after the planned fuel burn. If an aircraft has to return shortly after departure, it may be above its MLW; many long-haul aircraft can jettison fuel to reduce weight, and otherwise the manufacturer specifies an inspection after an overweight landing.

For example, an Airbus A320neo has an MLW of between about 66 and 68 tonnes, depending on the weight variant, against an MTOW of up to about 79 tonnes.

On Vuelopedia

Airbus A320

Related terms

MTOWMaximum weight at which an aircraft is certified to begin its take-off, including structure, crew, passengers, cargo and fuel. MZFWMaximum permitted weight of an aircraft with all its payload, crew and passengers on board, excluding the usable fuel in its tanks. OEWWeight of an aircraft ready for service, with crew, equipment and the necessary fluids, but without passengers, cargo or usable fuel. Landing gearAssembly of legs, wheels, shock absorbers and brakes that supports an aircraft on the ground and absorbs landing loads; on most airliners it retracts in flight. LandingThe final phase of flight in which the aircraft crosses the runway threshold, touches down on its main gear and slows to taxi speed.
Whole glossary

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This page was last updated on October 9, 2026

APA

Vuelopedia. (2026, October 9). MLW. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw

MLA

“MLW.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 9 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Vuelopedia. “MLW.” Fundación Poderia. Last modified October 9, 2026. https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw.

Harvard

Vuelopedia (2026) MLW. Available at: https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw (Accessed: 17 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{vuelopedia_en_glossary_mlw,
  author       = {{Vuelopedia}},
  title        = {{MLW}},
  publisher    = {Fundación Poderia},
  year         = {2026},
  date         = {2026-10-09},
  url          = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw},
  howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw}},
  urldate      = {2026-10-17},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17}
}

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/mlw |title=MLW |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-09 |access-date=2026-10-17 |language=en}}

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