Presented by:

Kyle Black
Carol Cushman
Why is weight and balance so important?
What does Center of Gravity mean?
The imaginary point where the aircraft would
balance if suspended.
The location of this point is critical to an airplanes
stability and elevator effectiveness.
Greatly impacts how the aircraft performs.

What is meant by the Center of Gravity
envelope of an airplane?
Why is this envelope so important?
How do we determine if our aircrafts CG is
within the envelope??
We calculate our Center of Gravity before every
flight!
Basic Empty Weight:
Includes the weight of the standard airplane, optional equipment,
unusable fuel, and full operating fluids including full engine oil.

Unusable Fuel:
The smallest amount of fuel in the tanks and fuel lines that cannot
be used in flight or drained on the ground.

Licensed Empty Weight:
Similar to Basic Empty Weight, except that it does not include full
engine oil. It counts only undrainable oil.
Used on older aircraft.

Ramp Weight:
The term used to describe the airplane loaded for flight prior to
engine start. The total weight of the aircraft as it sits on the ramp.

Takeoff Weight:
The weight of the aircraft just before you release the brakes to
begin the takeoff roll.
Subtract the fuel burned during engine start, runup, and taxi.

Landing Weight:
The weight of the aircraft just before touchdown.
Takeoff weight minus the fuel burned in route.






Max Ramp Weight: 803,000 lbs.
Max Takeoff Weight: 800,000 lbs.
Max Landing Weight: 654,000 lbs.








Max Ramp Weight: 2558 lbs.
Max Takeoff Weight: 2550 lbs.
Max Landing Weight: 2550 lbs.
Useful Load:
The amount of weight that the aircraft can carry in flight crew,
passengers, baggage, cargo, and usable fuel.
Max Takeoff Weight Basic Empty Weight = Useful Load

Payload:
The weight of passengers, baggage, and cargo.
Anything the person is paid to transport.

Useable Fuel:
The fuel available for use during flight.
Must account for its weight while computing weight and balance.
Standard Weights:
Fuel:
6 lb/US Gal

Jet A / Jet A-1:
6.8 lb/US Gal

Oil:
7.5 lb/US Gal

Water:
8.35 lb/US Gal
Terms for Calculating Weight & Balance:

Datum
Weight
Arm
Moment
Reference Datum:
An imaginary vertical plane from which all
horizontal distances are measured for balance
purposes.
Weight:
A measure of the heaviness of a particular object.
Accuracy counts when computing aircraft weight
and balance.
How much do you trust your passengers??
Arm:
The horizontal distance in inches from the reference
datum line to the center of gravity of an item.
The algebraic sign is plus (+) if measured aft of the datum,
and minus () if measured forward of the datum.
Experiment:
Try holding your Jeppesen book with your arm extended straight out for 5
minutes.
What happens if you bring the book to your chest and try to hold it for 5
minutes?
Moment:
The product of the weight of an object multiplied by its arm.
Expressed in pound-inches (lb.-in).
Total moment of an aircraft is its weight multiplied by the distance
between the datum and the CG.

Moment Index (Index)
The moment divided by a constant such as 100, 1000, or 10,000.
The purpose of using an index is to simplify weight and balance
calculations.
Makes huge numbers more manageable.
Computation Method
Listing all weights, their respective arms, and
calculate the moment of each.
Must include:
Airplane
Pilot
Passengers
Baggage
Fuel
Cargo
Step 1:
List each item and their weight
Then total the weights to ensure the total weight
is below the Max Ramp Weight.
Step 2:
Determine the Arm (Station) for each item
Step 3:
Calculate the moments of each item.
Then total all of the moments.
Step 4:
Determine the Center of Gravity by dividing the Total Moment by the
Total Weight.
This will give you the location of the CG in inches aft of the datum.
Step 5:
Verify that the computed Center of Gravity is
within the Center of Gravity envelope.
How do we check to ensure we are within limits?

What other way could we calculate Weight &
Balance?
The Table Method
Graph Method
The idea is the same, but instead of
calculating Moments they are listed in tables
next to the corresponding weights.
See next slide.


Instead of calculating by hand or using a
table, the graphing method utilizes a graph to
make the calculation for you.
See next slide.


Discuss some Advantages/Disadvantages of:

The Computation Method
The Table Method
The Graph Method
During your preflight, being the responsible
pilot that you are, you calculate weight and
balance for your flight and realize that you
are over the Max Weight allowable by the
Pilot Operating Handbook. What can you do
to get the airplane within limits?
Kick your significant other out of the airplane?
Quick do 20 laps around the ramp to lose as much
weight as you can before the flight?
Take a reduced fuel load, leave some baggage
You figured out a way to lose the extra weight
and bring your total weight within limits, but
you realize that your Center of Gravity is just
aft of the limit allowed by the Center of
Gravity envelope. You decide youre going to
move passengers and bags around to bring
the CG within range. Does this mean you
have to go through the entire process of
calculating your new CG??
Following the Weight-Shift formula helps you
to compute exactly what is necessary to bring
the CG within limits.
Example:
Your CG is aft by 2 inches so you decide to move weight from
the back seat to the front seat. What is the minimum
amount of weight you must move forward to bring the CG in
range?
Airplane weights 2500 lbs.
The difference between the front seat and back seat is
36 inches.

While preparing the night before your flight
you decide to complete the weight and
balance in order to save time before your
flight. The next day you meet your friend at
the airport for the flight. When you arrive you
are completely shocked by the size of
suitcase she brought for the weekend trip.
You had planned for a 30 lb. bag but her bag
is clearly pushing 100 lbs. Is your CG going to
be affected? How much?
Luckily you are an intelligent, competent
pilot and this problem doesnt even phase
you. Using the Weight Addition/Removal
formula you are easily able to make sure that
her ridiculously large suitcase wont be an
issue.
Aircraft Weight = 2430 lbs. (Max Takeoff Weight for Cessna 172 is 2550)
Current CG = 44.5 (CG Range for Cessna 172 is 41.0 to 47.3)
Expected Baggage = 30 lbs.
Actual Baggage = 100 lbs.
Baggage Area A arm is 95.0

How much will the CG change?
Will the CG move forward or aft?
What is the new CG?
Is it within limits?
How will our airplane be affected by weight?


How will our airplane be affected by the
location of the Center of Gravity?
How will an increased weight affect
performance?
Higher takeoff speed required
Longer takeoff run required
Reduced rate and angle of climb
Shorter range
Reduced cruising speed
Reduced maneuverability
Higher stalling speed
Higher landing speed required
Longer landing roll required

How will a forward Center of Gravity affect performance?
Performance DECREASE
With a forward center of gravity, a greater downward force on the
tail is required to maintain level cruising flight.
The total lift required from the wing is increased.
The wing must fly at a higher angle of attack, which results in more
drag and a higher indicated stall speed.

How will a forward Center of Gravity affect stability?
Stability INCREASES
Essentially the aircraft feels or behaves as if it is heavier. A heavier
aircraft resists movement to outside forces.
As the CG moves forward, the airplane becomes more nose-heavy.
If the CG is moved beyond the forward limit, the elevator may no
longer be able to hold the nose up, particularly at low airspeeds,
e.g., takeoff, landing, and power-off glides.

How will an aft Center of Gravity affect performance?
Performance INCREASES
With an aft center of gravity, less downward force on the tail is
required, resulting in less lift required by the wing.
The wing flies at a lower angle of attack with less drag and a
higher cruise speed.

How will an aft Center of Gravity affect stability?
Stability DECREASE
An airplane becomes less stable as the CG moves aft.
The elevator has a shorter arm (i.e., distance) from the CG and
requires greater deflection to produce the same result.
Recovery from a stall is more difficult because the airplanes
tendency to pitch down is reduced.
If the CG is moved beyond the aft limit, stall and spin recovery
may become impossible.

Time to practice a weight and balance calculation for a
Cessna 172!
Aircraft (As calculated by maintenance)
Weight = 1733.7
Moment = 71,907.0

Weights:
Pilot = 200 lbs.
Front Passenger = 145 lbs.
Rear Passenger = 125 lbs.
Baggage = 50 lbs.
Fuel = 35 US Gal.
Fuel Used in Flight = 25 US Gal

CG Range:
4o.o to 47.3

Any questions??