3542. Optimization of Aircraft Weighing Results and Failure Investigation

Paper

Abstract

Weighing of aircraft has been the basic control feature for mass properties since the very be- ginning of aircraft history, significantly supporting airworthiness verification purpose. With im- proving tools and methods for mass properties analysis the significance of theoretical data prognosis as well as monitoring increased, but with at the same time increasing complexity of aircraft systems and structure the weighing of aircraft together with potentially resulting mass properties data adjustment did not become less important.
In the meantime, rising flight performance requirements – especially for current fighter genera- tion – have correspondingly led to rising accuracy requirements on mass properties as one of the basic input parameters for flight control. Considering the above-mentioned role of weighing for aircraft mass properties data verification and adjustment this again applies likewise in- creased quality requirements to aircraft weighing data acquisition, which is always subjected to disturbing influences (like all kinds of measurements).
As disturbing influences can never be completely eliminated, the key task to obtain higher quality weighing results is to minimize those influences by adequate counter measures con- cerning aircraft weighing preparation as well as the weighing procedure itself. At the same time any resulting additional effort should be kept at a handable level, which can only be achieved by focusing on significant contributors only. And those significant contributors may vary be- tween different aircraft types. Hence the final result would normally lead to an aircraft type re- lated optimization, which needs to be permanently monitored and potentially improved by con- sideration of gained experience.
This paper tries to highlight and categorize disturbing weighing influences and to provide po- tential counter measures. Additionally a failure investigation system will be outlined in order to provide hands-on advice for further activities in case of significant deviations between ex- pected and obtained weighing results.