Basic Weight and

Balance
Objectives
 To know the aircraft limitation.
 To load the aircraft so as not to exceed any
of the limitation.

Importance
• Safety and comfort of the passengers.
• Economy operation
 Weight
 Downward pull of gravity
towards the center of the
earth.

Balance
 Location of the center
of gravity is in
equilibrium.
Fulcrum

-The point or support on which a lever pivots.

Effects of Improper Loading (Overweight)
 Higher take-off speed
 Longer take-off run
 Reduced rate and angle of climb
 Lower maximum altitude
 Higher fuel consumption
 Shorter range
 Reduced cruising speed
 Reduced maneuverability
 Higher stalling speed
 Higher landing speed
 Longer landing roll
Effects of beyond forward C.G. loading
 Higher take-off speed
 Greater distance of ground roll
 Reduced rate of climb
 Decreased maximum altitude
 Reduced maneuverability
 Higher stalling speed
 Reduction in performance caused by
increased nose down force
 Reduced pitch authority
Effects of beyond Aft C.G. loading

 Decreased stability
 Higher susceptibility to over-control
 Higher risk of stalls and spins of which
recover may be difficult or impossible.
Definition of Terms
1. Datum – imaginary vertical line from which are
measured of arms are taken.
2. Arm – horizontal distance in inches from the
reference datum line to the center of gravity of
the item.
Datum
arm

(-) forward (+) aft

0
3. Moment – is the product of weight and arm,
expressed in pound-inches. (lb-in)
4. Center of Gravity (C.G.) – is the theoretical point
at which the entire weight of the aircraft is
assumed to be concentrated.
5. C.G. Limits – the specified forward and aft or
lateral points beyond which C.G. must not be
located during take-off, flight or landing.
6. C.G. Range – the distance between forward and
aft limits indicated on pertinent aft specification
safe support zone.
weight (lbs) x arm (in) = Moment (lb-in)

C.G. Range

C.G.

C.G. Limits
7. Gross Weight – total weight of the aircraft and all
factors in it. : The weight of the airplane loaded
for takeoff. It includes basic empty weight and
the useful load.
8. Basic Empty Weight – the weight of the aircraft
including the unusable fuel, full operating fluids, full
engine oil and optional equipment.
9. Licensed Empty Weight – Basic empty weight
except that drainable engine oil is not included.
10. Ramp Weight – weight of the aircraft when all load
are already on board and the engine/s is ready for
starting.
11. Take-off weight – weight of the aircraft at the start
of take-off roll.
12. Landing Weight – weight of the aircraft over the
landing threshold.
13. Useful Load – composed of basic item, fuel
and payload.
14. Delta – a greek letter expressed by the
symbol , used in weight and balance
calculations.
ex. C.G. indicates a change of movement of
the C.G.
15. Fuel Load – expandable part of the load of
the aircraft, includes usable fuel.
16. Station – station and arm are identical.
17. Payload – weight of passengers, cargo and
baggage.
Ways to get the C.G. of an aircraft

 Computational – use of simple mathematics

to solve weight and balance problems
 Graph – simplification of computational
 Table – locate a given weight on the
appropriate table, then look up its
corresponding moment
Ex. Computational Method
A B C D
BxC
Item Weight Arm Moment
A 25 lbs. 15 inch
B 43 lbs. 18 inch
C 32 lbs. 23 inch
Total
Example of Table Method
Example of Graph Method