What do aircraft performance calculations determine?

Aircraft performance calculations are essential for ensuring safe and efficient operation of the aircraft. They provide critical data regarding the aircraft’s capabilities concerning weight, speed, and distance.

These calculations take into account numerous factors, including weight limitations, how the aircraft performs at different altitudes, and the effects of environmental conditions such as temperature and wind. By understanding these parameters, pilots and dispatchers can make informed decisions about loading the aircraft, which flight profiles to follow, and how far the aircraft can fly on a given amount of fuel.

This comprehensive approach informs flight planning, ensuring that the aircraft operates within its certified limits for safety and efficiency. While aspects like ground speed and fuel consumption are important, they are components of the broader analysis that performance calculations cover. Therefore, choice B accurately encapsulates the overall purpose of aircraft performance calculations.