[MoodyBlu]

"Heavy" is used for any aircraft (I think) that has a max gross takeoff weight of 300,000 pounds or more--Boeing 747s, 767s and 777s, DC-8s, DC-10s and MD-11s, Airbus A330s and A340s. They would communicate to the controllers as "Virgin 45 heavy." I think it's mainly used for ATC communications as a way of reminding controllers, "Hey, I'm a big-arsed A340 over here, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to make me do a real sharp turn near the airport, or vector that little Cessna in two miles behind me because of the wake turbulence."

You are correct. Just think of it this way; if Michael Moore could get his fat-a$$ in a Cessna 152, we in ATC then would refer to the Cessna as a "heavy". It's all about wake turbulence.

MoodyBlu

[GAB-1955]

You are correct. Just think of it this way; if Michael Moore could get his fat-a$$ in a Cessna 152, we in ATC then would refer to the Cessna as a "heavy". It's all about wake turbulence.
MoodyBlu If Michael Moore were to climb into a Cessna 152, it would be the first plane to fly with its nose straight down, because the center of gravity would be FAR forward of the wings.