Aviation Weight and Balance
Xavier Burke
Dec. 12, 2014
AMT 154
Weight & Balance
Weight and balance is important on every aircraft. An aircraft’s performance and handling characteristics are greatly affected by the gross weight and center of gravity limits. An overloaded and improperly balanced aircraft requires more power and greater fuel consumption to maintain flight. The stability of the aircraft is also seriously impacted by the weight and balance factors of aviation. Lack of understanding the severity of the effects of weight and balance of the performance of flight is a prime factor in many accidents that happen in an aircraft. A greater grasp on the concept would encourage carefulness and a more thorough inspection of the factors that assist in safe and efficient flight. Calculating the weight of an aircraft is a matter of simple mathematical skills (addition, subtraction). There are a few numbers that are elements of the “weight” part of weight and balance. They are: The empty weight (the weight of the airframe and engine(s). includes unusable fuel and oil), basic operating weight (empty weight + crew), zero fuel weight (basic operating weight + passengers & baggage), ramp weight (maximum weight an aircraft may be while on the ground), takeoff weight (the maximum weight an aircraft may be when it starts takeoff roll), and landing weight (the maximum weight an aircraft may be when it lands). When added together what’s calculated is the maximum gross weight of the aircraft. The balance part gets a little tricky, as your will need to know the terms datum, arm, moment, and center of gravity. The datum is a reference point where all horizontal measurements are made from. The arm is the horizontal measurement from the datum to a part of the aircraft or a piece of equipment. The moment is the product of a weight multiplied by its arm (weight x arm). It is the torque or twisting force that the object makes on the aircraft. The center of gravity (CoG) is a point where all of the nose
Dec. 12, 2014
AMT 154
Weight & Balance
Weight and balance is important on every aircraft. An aircraft’s performance and handling characteristics are greatly affected by the gross weight and center of gravity limits. An overloaded and improperly balanced aircraft requires more power and greater fuel consumption to maintain flight. The stability of the aircraft is also seriously impacted by the weight and balance factors of aviation. Lack of understanding the severity of the effects of weight and balance of the performance of flight is a prime factor in many accidents that happen in an aircraft. A greater grasp on the concept would encourage carefulness and a more thorough inspection of the factors that assist in safe and efficient flight. Calculating the weight of an aircraft is a matter of simple mathematical skills (addition, subtraction). There are a few numbers that are elements of the “weight” part of weight and balance. They are: The empty weight (the weight of the airframe and engine(s). includes unusable fuel and oil), basic operating weight (empty weight + crew), zero fuel weight (basic operating weight + passengers & baggage), ramp weight (maximum weight an aircraft may be while on the ground), takeoff weight (the maximum weight an aircraft may be when it starts takeoff roll), and landing weight (the maximum weight an aircraft may be when it lands). When added together what’s calculated is the maximum gross weight of the aircraft. The balance part gets a little tricky, as your will need to know the terms datum, arm, moment, and center of gravity. The datum is a reference point where all horizontal measurements are made from. The arm is the horizontal measurement from the datum to a part of the aircraft or a piece of equipment. The moment is the product of a weight multiplied by its arm (weight x arm). It is the torque or twisting force that the object makes on the aircraft. The center of gravity (CoG) is a point where all of the nose