Aircraft Design Weight and Balance Handbook Ch. 1a

Why is Weight and Balance Important?

Weight and balance is one of the most important factors affecting safety of flight. An overweight aircraft, or one whose center of gravity is outside the allowable limits, is inefficient and dangerous to fly. The responsibility for proper weight and balance control begins with the engineers and designers and extends to the pilot who operates and the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) who maintains the aircraft.
Modern aircraft are engineered utilizing state-of-the-art technology and materials to lift the maximum amount of weight and carry it the greatest distance at the highest speed. As much care and expertise must be exercised in operating and maintaining these efficient aircraft as was taken in their design and manufacturing.
Various types of aircraft have different load requirements. Transport aircraft must carry huge loads of passengers and cargo for long distances at high altitude and high speed. Military aircraft must be highly maneuverable and extremely sturdy. Corporate aircraft must carry a reasonable load at a high speed for long distances. Agricultural aircraft must carry large loads short distances and be extremely maneuverable. Trainers and private aircraft must be lightweight, low cost, simple, and safe to operate. All aircraft regardless of their function have two characteristics in common: all are sensitive to weight, and the center of gravity of the aircraft must be maintained within a specified range.

The designers of an aircraft have determined the maximum weight, based on the amount of lift the wings or rotors can provide under the operating conditions for which the aircraft is designed. The structural strength of the aircraft also limits the maximum weight the aircraft can safely carry. The ideal location of the center of gravity (CG) was very carefully determined by the designers, and the maximum deviation allowed from this specific location has been calculated. The manufacturer provides the aircraft operator with the empty weight of the aircraft and the location of its empty- weight center of gravity (EWCG) at the time the aircraft left the factory. The AMT who maintains the aircraft and performs the maintenance inspections keeps the weight and balance records current, recording any changes that have been made because of repairs or alterations.
The pilot in command of the aircraft has the responsibility on every flight to know the maximum allowable gross weight of the aircraft and its CG limits. This allows the pilot to determine on the preflight inspection that the aircraft is loaded in such a way that the CG is within the allowable limits.

Weight and balance technology, like all other aspects of aviation, has become more complex as the efficiency and capability of aircraft and engines have increased. Therefore, this requires all pilots and AMTs to understand weight and balance control, and to operate and maintain their aircraft so its weight and CG location are within the limitations established when the aircraft was designed, manufactured, and certified by the FAA.

Weight Control

Weight is a major factor in airplane construction and operation, and it demands respect from all pilots and particular diligence by all AMTs. Excessive weight reduces the efficiency of an aircraft and the safety margin available if an emergency condition should arise.

When an aircraft is designed, it is made as light as the required structural strength will allow, and the wings or rotors are designed to support the maximum allowable gross weight. When the weight of an aircraft is increased, the wings or rotors must produce additional lift and the structure must support not only the additional static loads , but also the dynamic loads imposed by flight maneuvers. For example, the wings of a 3,000-pound airplane must support 3,000 pounds in level flight, but when the airplane is turned smoothly and sharply using a bank angle of 60°, the dynamic load requires the wings to support twice this, or 6,000 pounds.

Severe uncoordinated maneuvers or flight into turbulence can impose dynamic loads on the structure great enough to cause failure. The structure of a normal category airplane must be strong enough to sustain a load factor of 3.8 times its weight; that is, every pound of weight added to an aircraft requires that the structure be strong enough to support an additional 3.8 pounds. An aircraft operating in the utility category must sustain a load factor of 4.4, and acrobatic category aircraft must be strong enough to withstand 6.0 times their weight.

The lift produced by a wing is determined by its airfoil shape, angle of attack, speed through the air, and the air density. When an aircraft takes off from an airport with a high density altitude, it must accelerate to a speed faster than would be required at sea level to produce enough lift to allow takeoff; therefore, a longer takeoff run is necessary. The distance needed may be longer than the available runway. When operating from a high density altitude airport, the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) must be consulted to determine the maximum weight allowed for the aircraft under the conditions of altitude, temperature, wind, and runway conditions.

Effects of Weight

Most modern aircraft are so designed that if all seats are occupied, all baggage allowed by the baggage compartment structure is carried, and all of the fuel tanks are full, the aircraft will be grossly overloaded. This type of design gives the pilot a great deal of latitude in loading the aircraft for a particular flight. If maximum range is required, occupants or baggage must be left behind, or if the maximum load must be carried, the range, dictated by the amount of fuel on board, must be reduced.

Some of the problems caused by overloading an aircraft are:
• The aircraft will need a higher takeoff speed, which results in a longer takeoff run.
• Both the rate and angle of climb will be reduced.
• The service ceiling will be lowered.
• The cruising speed will be reduced.
• The cruising range will be shortened.
• Maneuverability will be decreased.
• A longer landing roll will be required because the landing speed will be higher.
• Excessive loads will be imposed on the structure, especially the landing gear.

The POH or AFM includes tables or charts that give the pilot an indication of the performance expected for any gross weight. An important part of careful preflight planning includes a check of these charts to determine the aircraft is loaded so the proposed flight can be safely made.

High Density Altitude Airport Operations
Consult the POH or AFM to determine the maximum weight allowed for the aircraft under the conditions of altitude, temperature, wind, and runway conditions.
Your preflight planning must include a careful check of gross weight performance charts to determine the aircraft is loaded properly and the proposed flight can be safely made.