Uplift refers to the physical loading of weight onto an aircraft before a flight. While it can apply to passengers and freight, line crews and pilots most commonly use it to describe the total volume or mass of aviation fuel pumped into the tanks. Dispatchers calculate the required uplift to ensure the aircraft meets minimum fuel requirements for the route without exceeding maximum takeoff weight limits.
Heard on the job
We need an uplift of 15,000 pounds of Jet A before we can push back.
Insider tip
When pilots ask for the uplift, they usually want the exact fuel receipt numbers in liters or gallons to cross-check against their flight management system in pounds or kilograms.