Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

     As a passenger in an aircraft you probably do not pay a lot of attention to where your bags go. To be honest, if airlines didn't charge extra for heavy baggage then you probably would not pay a lot of attention to how much they weigh either. As a pilot and support crew for aircraft the weight of baggage, cargo, and even the weight of passengers and fuel are all taken into account. The weight and balance of an aircraft is vital to a safe flight and if done improperly can cause the aircraft to handle unexpectedly. 


    Additional weight or improperly distributed cargo, not only potentially stresses the airframe beyond its capabilities; the flying characteristics of the airplane can also become affected. Even if a pilot has flown an aircraft hundreds of times, they might be taken by surprise in the air when gravity has its say (Smith-Kohls, 2020). The fuel is perhaps the most dynamic piece of the weight and balance calculation. As a flight continues to fly, the engines run and fuel is burning through. The longer a flight is, the more fuel is used, and the center of gravity for the aircraft is changing, depending on the type of aircraft it may move towards the nose or the tail of the plane. By remaining disciplined in your flight preparation and calculating the exact weights of your load you can avoid a catastrophic situation. Additionally, if you can learn more than one way to calculate the weight and balance it may help you verify your numbers are correct. 



References:

Calitz, G. (2021). Weight and Balance, Disregard at your Own Risk.   https://www.flightlineweekly.com/post/weight-and-balance-disregard-at-your-own-risk

Smith-Kohls, T. (2020). Aircraft Weight And Balance: How Do They Affect Flight? https://calaero.edu/aircraft-weight-and-balance-affect-flight/

Comments

  1. Shavar FosterNovember 22, 2021 at 11:31 AM

    You are totally correct. My instructor and I spent many days going over the "Weight and Balanced" worksheet and knowledge. If not done properly, can cause the aircraft to not make it to its destination because too heavy or based on altitude destination. Or it must release some of the fuel before landing called Fuel Jettison. So calculating the weight and balance is extremely important.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MicahNovember 28, 2021 at 9:41 AM

      Shavar,

      I have not heard of fuel jettisoning. I am sure someone might be getting in trouble if that had to happen. I cannot image that could be good for the environment and I know that would hurt the bottom dollar of the whoever pays for the fuel.

      Delete
  2. Daniel VenturaNovember 28, 2021 at 1:44 PM

    Micah,

    There is so much knowledge and good advice in this post. What is crazy and people tend to forget is that as the weight moves away from the "arm" it gets magnified exponentially! just a few pounds in the aft of the aircraft can have a serious effect. One has to pay careful attention to weights and balance, especially in smaller planes with lower useful loads. Great writeup!

    Vr
    Dan

    ReplyDelete

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