Aircraft Weight & Balance PDF

AIRCRAFT WEIGHT & BALANCE  Introduction to Weight and Balance Weight is the force generated by the gravitational attraction of the earth on the airplane. The magnitude of this force depends on the mass of all of the parts of the airplane itself, plus the amount of fuel, p...

AIRCRAFT WEIGHT & BALANCE  Introduction to Weight and Balance Weight is the force generated by the gravitational attraction of the earth on the airplane. The magnitude of this force depends on the mass of all of the parts of the airplane itself, plus the amount of fuel, plus any payload on board (people, baggage, freight , etc). The weight is distributed throughout the airplane, but we can often think of it as collected and acting through a single point called the center of gravity. In flight, the airplane rotates about the center of gravity, but the direction of the weight force always remains toward the center of the earth. during a flight, the aircraft burns up its fuel. so the weight of the airplane constantly changes. Also, the distribution of the weight and the center of gravity can change, so the pilot must constantly adjust the controls to keep the airplane balanced.  Introduction to Weight and Balance Weight(gravitational force) is fundamentally different from the aerodynamic forces, lift and drag. Aerodynamic forces are mechanical forces and the airplane has to be in physical contact with the air which generates the force. The gravitational force is a field force; the source of the force does not have to be in physical contact with the object  Introduction to Weight and Balance The term “Balance” in aircraft weight & balance refers to the distribution of weight throughout an aircraft to ensure it is stable and safe to fly. This includes ensuring that the center of gravity (CG) remains within specified limits. The center of gravity is the point at which the aircraft would balance if it were suspended at that point.  IMPORTANCE OF WEIGHT AND BALANCE IN AVIATION Proper weight and balance are critical for several reasons: 1.Stability: Proper distribution of weight ensures that the aircraft remains stable in flight, allowing pilots to control it effectively. 2.Control: Correct balance helps pilots maintain control of the aircraft during maneuvers and in various flight conditions. 3.Performance: Weight and balance affect aircraft performance, including climb rate, cruise speed, and fuel efficiency. 4.Structural Integrity: Incorrect weight distribution can  Introduction to Weight and Balance To achieve proper balance, aircraft manufacturers provide weight and balance limitations, including maximum and minimum allowable weights and acceptable CG ranges. Pilots and operators must calculate the weight and balance of the aircraft before each flight, taking into account factors such as fuel, passengers, cargo, and any other items onboard. If the calculated weight and balance fall outside the specified limits, adjustments must be made before the flight to ensure safe operation. Introduction to Weight and Balance Datum Arm- >horizontal distance from the datum parallel to the centerline of the airplane, used in determining the CG of an airplane. >indicated in inches, measured from the center of weight of an object to the datum ahead(fwd) of the datum is negative ar behind(aft) the datum is positive arm  +moment -moment MOMENT = ARM X WEIGHT Where: MOMENT = ARM(distance of object from datum)in inches X WEIGHT(weight of the object)in lbs.  Any item of weight added to the aircraft either side of the datum is +weig plus weight ht Any item of weight removed from the aircraft either side of the datum is negative weight -weight  4 MOMENT RULES positive weight and positive arm gives positive momen positive weight and negative arm gives negative mom negative weight and positive arm gives negative mom negative weight and negative arm gives positive mom  Basic units of measurement used in weight and balance calculations. ds (lbs.) re defined as the unit of weight of an object. of weighing in pounds is generally used in Britain and USA. denoted as lbs in short. orm of lb is “Libra” which is a Latin word meaning balance or 1 kg, you have 2.2 lbs Inches(in or “) An imperial unit of linear measure equal to one twelfth of a foot (or 2.54 cm)