1986. Weight and Accountability – an Airline Point of View
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Paper
Abstract
The certified weight and center of gravity (C.G.) limitations define the envelope of weight and C.G.’s that an airplane may be flown. Governmental air regulatory agencies require a check of the aircraft’s weight and C.G. prior to takeoff to insure the aircraft is within these limits. Airline operators not only want to he safely within the limits, but also want to fly the airplane efficiently. Airlines preplan the airplane loading to most efficiently use the airplane within these limitations. Historically, the preplanning and the final weight and C.G. check have been accomplished with some type of a hand manifest. Estimated weights and C.G.’s of passengers, cargo, fuel, and operating items are added to a basic aircraft weight and C.G. Some hand manifests are computerized, but all manifests require the operation to input the aircraft basic weight, plus the passengers, cargo, fuel, and operational items. Weighing equipment which could be mounted on the aircraft was developed in the late 1960s. These ”Onboard Weight and Balance Systems” as they are commonly referred to, use sensors to measure gear loads. These sensors are linked to a computer which calculates the weight and C.G. System manufacturers have proposed the use of onboard weight and balance systems to eliminate the hand manifest final weight and balance checks. In order to do this, the system must be accurate, reliable, and most of all, economical. This paper attempts to explain basic weight and balance, presents an insight into how it occurs for an airline operation, and ends with a view of onboard weight and balance systems as they exist today.
