The minimum load factor for flight operations is:

• A. -1.0
• B. 0
• C. 0.5
• D. 1.0

Answer: (B)

Load factor, or g-load, is the ratio of the lift the wings are producing to the aircraft’s weight. It tells you how much load the airframe feels relative to its weight. In steady, level flight, lift exactly balances weight, giving a load factor of 1 g. The lowest value permitted in normal flight operations is zero g, which occurs when lift is zero and the aircraft would be in free fall with no upward force from the wings. Negative g would require sustained downward lift or inverted, highly specific maneuvers and is not part of standard flight operations. Therefore, the minimum load factor for flight operations is zero g.