SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/comm-va-lighter-weight

When an airplane gets lighter, what happens to its design maneuvering speed (VA)?

VA goes down, so slow down in turbulence as you burn fuel.

Start playing free

  1. It stays the same
  2. It decreases ✔
  3. It increases

Why: VA changes with weight. A lighter airplane stalls at a lower speed, so its maneuvering speed drops too. The AFH example gives 100 knots heavily loaded and only 90 knots light.

Huh, didn't know that: The ACS lists maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes, as a knowledge item for chandelles.

The dad joke
We don't know where we would go after this trip. We're just going to wing it.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: It decreases. VA changes with weight. A lighter airplane stalls at a lower speed, so its maneuvering speed drops too. The AFH example gives 100 knots heavily loaded and only 90 knots light.

  1. FAA Safety Briefing, May/June 2015 www.faasafety.gov/files/events/SO/SO15/2024/SO15133906/AircraftPerformance.pdf
    VA decreases as weight decreases, and it increases as aircraft weight increases.
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. Commercial Pilot Airplane ACS (FAA-S-ACS-7B) www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/commercial_airplane_acs_7.pdf
    Maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes
    Checked 2026-10-11.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

FlyingFlying at or below VA protects the airplane against which control input?FlyingWhat can a commercial pilot do that a private pilot generally cannot?FlyingA new commercial airplane pilot has no instrument rating. Passengers for hire cannot go cross-country beyond how far?

That's stuff everyone should know.