WEIGHT & BALANCE

AERODYNAMICS

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LIC IET 164

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LIC IET 164

WEIGHTS

STANDARD WEIGHT EMPTY:

The weight of the airframe and engine with all standard equipment installed. It also includes the unusable fuel and oil.
Empty weight 787-3 : 223,000 lb (101,200 kg) Empty weight 787-8 : 242,000 lb (110,000 kg) Empty weight 787-5 : 230,000 lb (105,000 kg)
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OPTIONAL OR EXTRA EQUIPMENT

Any and all additional instruments, radio equipment, etc., installed but not included as standard equipment, the weight of which is added to the standard weight empty to get the basic empty weight. It also includes fixed ballast, full engine coolant, hydraulic and de-icing fluid.
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BASIC WEIGHT EMPTY

The weight of the airplane with all optional equipment included. In most modern airplanes, the manufacturer includes full oil in the basic empty weight.

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USEFUL LOAD (OR DISPOSABLE LOAD)

The difference between gross take-off weight and basic weight empty. It is, in other words, all the load which is removable, which is not permanently part of the airplane. It includes the usable fuel, the pilot, crew, passengers, baggage, freight, etc.

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PAYLOAD
The load available as passengers, baggage, freight, etc., after the weight of pilot, crew, usable fuel have been deducted from the useful load.

A 320

Typical volumetric payload

16.6 tonnes

36.59 lbs. x 1000

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OPERATIONAL WEIGHT EMPTY

The basic empty weight of the airplane plus the weight of the pilot. It excludes payload and usable fuel.
A 320 Typical operating weight empty 42.4 tonnes 93.5 lbs. x 1000

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USABLE FUEL:
Fuel available for flight planning.

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UNUSABLE FUEL:
Fuel remaining in the tanks after a runout test has been completed in accordance with government regulations.

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OPERATIONAL GROSS WEIGHT:

The weight of the airplane loaded for takeoff. It includes the basic weight empty plus the useful load.

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MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT:

The maximum permissible weight of the airplane.

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MAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT:

The maximum weight approved for the start of the take-off run.

A 320 Maximum takeoff weight 73.5 (77) tonnes 162 (169.8) lbs. x 1000

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MAXIMUM RAMP WEIGHT:

The maximum weight approved for ground manoeuvring. It includes the weight of fuel used for start, taxi and run up.
A 320 Maximum ramp weight 73.9 (77.4) tonnes 162.9 (170.6) lbs. x 1000

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ZERO FUEL WEIGHT:

The weight of the airplane exclusive of usable fuel.

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A 320 Maximum takeoff weight Maximum landing weight Maximum zero fuel weight Maximum fuel capacity

METRIC 73.5 (77) tonnes

IMPERIAL 162 (169.8) lbs. x 1000

64.5 (66) tonnes

142.2 (145.5) lbs. x 1000

61 (62.5) tonnes

134.5 (137.8) lbs. x 1000

23,860 (29,840) Litres 42.4 tonnes

6,300 (7,885) US gal.

Typical operating weight empty Typical volumetric payload

93.5 lbs. x 1000

16.6 tonnes
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36.59 lbs. x 1000

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PASSENGER WEIGHTS:
Actual passenger weights must be used in computing the weight of an airplane with limited seating capacity. Allowance must be made for heavy winter clothing when such is worn. Winter clothing may add as much as 14 lbs to a person's basic weight; summer clothing would add about 8 lbs. On larger airplanes with quite a number of passenger seats and for which actual passenger weights would not be available, the following average passenger weights may be used. The specified weights for males and females include an allowance for 8 lbs of carry-on baggage.
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Males (12yrs&up)

182 lbs 188 lbs

Summer Females (12yrs&up)

Children (2-11 yrs) Infants (0-up to 2 yrs)

135 Winter lbs 141 lbs 75 lbs 75 lbs 30 lbs 30 lbs

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FUEL AND 0IL:

The Airplane Flight Manuals for airplanes of U.S. manufacture give fuel and oil quantities in U.S. gallons. Canadian manufactured airplanes of older vintage may have manuals that give fuel and oil quantities in Imperial gallons. Some recently printed manuals may give fuel and oil quantities in litres. At most airports in Canada, fuel is now dispensed in litres. It is therefore necessary to convert from litres to U.S. or Imperial gallons as required for your particular airplane. To convert litres to U.S. gallons, multiply by .264178. To convert litres to Imperial gallons, multiply by.219975.
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LITRE

U.S. GALLON
6.0 lb. 6.6 lb. 7.0 lb. 7.5 lb.

IMP. GALLON
7.20 lb. 8.01 lb. 8.39 lb. 8.5 lb.

AVIATION GAS JP-4

KEROSENE OIL

1.58 lb. 1.76 lb. 1.85 lb. 1.95 lb.

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MAXIMUM LANDING WEIGHT:

The maximum weight approved for landing touchdown.

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MAXIMUM LANDING WEIGHT:

Most multi-engine airplanes which operate over long stage lengths consume considerable weights of fuel. As a result, their weight is appreciably less on landing than at takeoff. Designers take advantage of this condition to stress the airplane for the lighter landing loads, thus saving structural weight. If the flight has been of short duration, fuel or payload may have to be jettisoned reduce the gross weight maximum or maximum landing weight.
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MAXIMUM WEIGHT - ZERO FUEL:

Some transport planes carry fuel in their wings, the weight of which relieves; the bending moments imposed on the wings by the lift. The maximum weight - zero fuel limits the load which may be carried in the fuselage. Any increase in weight in the form of load carried fuselage must be counterbalanced by adding weight in the form of fuel in the wings.
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MAXIMUM WEIGHT - ZERO FUEL:

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DATUM (DATUM O REFERENCE DATUM).

Es el plano vertical imaginario a partir del cual se miden todas las distancias a efectos de balance y determinacin del centro de gravedad. La localizacin de esta referencia la establece el fabricante.

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THE BALANCE DATUM LINE

is a suitable line selected arbitrarily by the manufacturer from which horizontal distances are measured for balance purposes. It may be the nose of the airplane, the firewall or any other convenient point .

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BRAZO (ARM).
Es la distancia horizontal existente desde el datum hasta un elemento (tripulante, pasaje, equipaje, etc..).

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THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY (C.G.)

Is the point through which the weights of all the various parts of an airplane pass. It is, in effect, the imaginary point from which the airplane could be suspended and remain balanced. The C.G. can move within certain limits without upsetting the balance of the airplane. The distance between the forward and aft C.G. limits is called the centre of gravity range.
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THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY (C.G.)

Is the point through which the weights of all the various parts of an airplane pass. It is, in effect, the imaginary point from which the airplane could be suspended and remain balanced. The C.G. can move within certain limits without upsetting the balance of the airplane. The distance between the forward and aft C.G. limits is called the centre of gravity range.
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BRAZO DEL C.G. (C.G.ARM).

Distancia horizontal desde el datum hasta el centro de gravedad.

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MOMENTO (MOMENT).
La fuerza de palanca que ejerce una fuerza o peso. En este caso, es el producto del peso de un elemento por su brazo.

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LIMITES DEL C.G. (C.G. LIMITS).

Establecen los lmites a la posicin del C.G. dentro de los cuales un avin con un peso determinado puede volar con seguridad. Se suelen expresar en pulgadas contando a partir del datum.

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THE MOMENT ARM

is the horizontal distance in inches from the balance datum line to the C.G. The distance from the balance datum line to any item, such as a passenger, cargo, fuel tank, etc. is the arm of that item.

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THE BALANCE MOMENT OF THE AIRPLANE

is determined by multiplying the weight of the airplane by the moment arm of the airplane. It is expressed in inch pounds. The balance moment of any item is the weight of that item multiplied by its distance from the balance datum line. It is, therefore, obvious that a heavy object loaded in a rearward position will have a much greater balance moment than the same object loaded in a position nearer to the balance datum line.
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THE MOMENT INDEX

is the balance moment of any item or of the total airplane divided by a constant such as 100, 1000, or 10,000. It is used to simplify computations of weight and balance especially on large airplanes where heavy items and long arms result in large unmanageable numbers.

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 If loads are forward of the balance datum line their moment arms are usually considered negative (-). Loads behind the balance datum line are considered positive (+)*. The total balance moment is the algebraic sum of the balance moments of the airplane and each item composing the disposable load.

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 In many cases the positive (+) sign is omitted, but the negative (-) sign is always shown. To simplify matters, both are included in our example The C.G. is found by dividing the total balance moment (in inch-pounds) by the total weight (in lb.) and is expressed in inches forward (-) or aft (+) of the balance datum line. The centre of gravity range is usually expressed in inches from the balance datum line (i.e. +39.5" to +45.8"). In some airplanes, it may be expressed as a percentage of the mean aerodynamic chord (25% to 35%). The MAC is the mean aerodynamic chord of the wing.

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TO CALCULATE THE POSITION OF THE C.G. IN PERCENT OF MAC.

Let us assume that the weight and balance calculations have found the C.G. to be 66 inches aft of the balance datum line and the leading edge of the MAC to be 55 inches aft of the same reference . The C.G. will, therefore, lie 11 inches aft of the leading edge of the MAC. If the MAC is 40 inches in length, the position of the C.G. will be at a position (11 ~ 40) 27% of the MAC. If the calculated C.G. position is within the recommended range (for example, 25% to 35%), the airplane is properly loaded.
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FINDING BALANCE BY COMPUTATION METHOD

For this example, an airplane with a basic weight of 1575 lb. and an authorized gross weight of 2600 lb. has been selected. The balance datum line for the airplane, selected by the manufacturer, is the firewall. The recommended C.G. limits are 35.5" to 44.8".

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FINDING BALANCE BY COMPUTATION METHOD

List in table form the airplane (basic weight), pilot, passengers, fuel, oil, baggage, cargo, etc., their respective weights and arms. Calculate the balance moment of each. Total the weights. Total the balance moments. Divide the total balance moment by the total weight to find the moment arm (i.e. the position of the C.G.). (Note: In this example, the oil is listed as a separate item and the balance datum line is the firewall in order to give an example of a negative moment arm.)
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 The moment arm for this loading of the airplane is 42.52" (110,270-- 2593). The total weight (2593 lb.) of the loaded airplane is less than the authorized gross weight (2600 lb.). The moment arm falls within the C.G. range (35.5" to 44.8"). The airplane is, therefore, properly loaded.

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ITEM Basic Airplane Pilot Passenger (front seat) Passenger (rear seat) Child (rear seat)

WEIGHT LBS 1575 165 143 165 77

ITEM MOMENT ARM INCHES +36 +37 +37 +72 +72

BALANCE MOMENT INCH-LBS +56.700 +6,105 +5,291 +11,880 +5,544

Baggage
Fuel Oil TOTAL

90
360 18 2593
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+98
+45 -15 42,53
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+8,820
+16,200 -270 110,270
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CALCULO DEL CG
PESO BRAZO MOMENTO

PESO BASICO VACIO

COMBUSTIBLE EQUIPAJE TOTAL

1169
61 100 1670

732.
85.5 75.4 115.0 78.3

85570
29070 4599 11500 130739

PILOTOS Y PASAJEROS 340

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PROCEDIMIENTO TABULAR
1. Anotar en la primera columna los pesos de cada uno de los elementos 2. En la segunda columna la distancia de los elementos (arm) al datum. 3. En la tercera el momento de cada fila, multiplicando el peso (col.1) por el brazo (col.2). 4. Sumar la primera columna (peso total) y la tercera (momento total). 5. Dividiendo el momento total de la columna tercera por el peso total de la columna primera, resulta el brazo (arm) del centro de gravedad 6. Con este peso y esta distribucin, se obtiene la posicin del c.g. desde el datum. 7. Anotar enla fila de totales, en la columna 2. 8. Verificar que el peso total (columna 1) y la posicin del c.g. (columna 2) estn dentro de los lmites aprobados.

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PROCEDIMIENTO CON GRFICAS

Sumar los pesos de todos los elementos. Esto nos da el peso total que debemos comprobar si est en lmites. En el grfico de carga determinar el momento de todos y cada uno de los elementos transportados en el aeroplano (la interseccin del peso en el eje Y con la lnea transversal correspondiente al elemento se proyecta sobre el eje X Sumar todos los momentos obtenidos al momento del peso en vaco especificado por el fabricante. Dividir el momento total por el peso total El resultado es la situacin del c.g. desde el datum. Localizar en el grfico de la derecha el punto de interseccin del peso total (eje Y) con el resultado obtenido en el eje X. Si est dentro del contorno marcado en rojo, el avin tiene el c.g. actual dentro de lmites.
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FLOAT BUOYANCY:

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FLOAT BUOYANCY:
The maximum permissible gross weight of a seaplane is governed by the buoyancy of the floats. The buoyancy of a seaplane float is equal to the weight of water displaced by the immersed part of the float. This is equal to the weight the float will support without sinking beyond a predetermined level (draught line).

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FLOAT BUOYANCY:

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FLOAT BUOYANCY:
The buoyancy of a seaplane float is designated by its model number. A 4580 float has a buoyancy of 4580 lb. A seaplane fitted with a pair of 4580 floats has a buoyancy of 9160 lbs. Regulations require an 80% reserve float buoyancy. The floats must, therefore, have a buoyancy equal to 180% of the weight of the airplane. To find the maximum gross weight of a seaplane fitted with, say 7170 model floats, multiply the float buoyancy by 2 and divide by 1.8 (7170 x 2)/1.8 = 7966 lb.
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