What does "heavy" mean in an aircraft's radio ID?

Question

I often hear aircraft in movies identified by their flight number followed by the word "heavy", e.g. "This is United 101 Heavy."

What does "heavy" mean in this context?

Answer 1

It spcifies if the aircraft is a widebody (twin aisle. ex:: 767)

Answer 2

The number 255,000 pounds was picked for a reason.. it was  the MAX Gross Take Off Weight  (MGTOW) of the 757 when it entered service.  For WHATEVER reason... the powers that be decided that it would not be considered a "heavy" jet for the wake turbulence seperation mins.

I can tell you that a B-737 can throw a wingtip votice that can knock you pretty darn well if you catch it at the right moment...  so basically.. this is just a guideline..  and no one went back and checked their AIM to recite  WHEN the wing tip vortices are at the most powerful?? or  parallel runway ops with cross winds of how much? regarding seperation ...  yup... it's all in there...     Best thing is just fly a heavy jet and then you don't have to deal with all that...    DOH !

Answer 3

Aircraft with operating weight of 255,000 lbs or greater and generally the Boeing 757.  The aircraft does not have to be operated at the MTOGW (max take off gross weight) to be considered a heavy.

Answer 4

It means "containing more than one flibe."  If there is one flibe or zero flibes, it is a "light" aircraft.

Answer 5

A Boeing 757 is NOT a heavy jet, but has additional rules as it throws of as much wake turbulence as some heavies. The term Heavy is always in the call sign and the separation standards with a Heavy are higher than other aircraft. If you fly to close and behind one of them, you can get knocked over or worse.

Answer 6

Any airplane with a certified maximum takeoff weight of more than 255,000 pounds must identify itself as a "heavy" aircraft in its initial radio call.

Answer 7

previous answer if wrong.

term heavy is applied to any aircraft with a weight of more than 220,000 lbs total at departure. the term heavy remains regardless if the aircraft got lighter because of expended fuel,

one purpose is to tell the ATC to allow more separation between large and smaller aircraft because larger aircraft tend to displace more air and the turbulence caused by their passage can be lethal to smaller aircraft following behind. (The aircraft itself does not need to be large, just the aircraft behind needs to be smaller. For example, a cessna close behind a 737 is very bad. Even though a 737 is a medium aircraft, the cessna can be flipped over by its wake turbulence)