When a technician gets involved with the weight and balance of an aircraft, it almost always involves a calculation of the aircraft’s empty weight and EWCG. Only on rare occasions are technicians involved in calculating adverse-loading CG checks, how much ballast is needed, or the loaded weight and balance of the aircraft. Calculating the empty weight and EWCG might involve putting the aircraft on scales and weighing it, or a pencil and paper exercise after installing a new piece of equipment.
The FAA requires that a current and accurate empty weight and EWCG be known for an aircraft. This information must be included in the weight and balance report, which is a part of the aircraft permanent records. The weight and balance report must be in the aircraft when it is being flown.
There is no required format for this report, but Figure 1 is a good example of recording the data obtained from weighing an aircraft. As it is currently laid out, the form would accommodate either a tricycle gear or tail dragger airplane. Depending on the gear type, either the nose or the tail row would be used. If an airplane is being weighed using jacks and load cells, or if a helicopter is being weighed, the item names must be changed to reflect the weight locations.
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Figure 1. Center of gravity location on a large commercial transport
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If an equipment change is being done on an aircraft, and the new weight and balance is calculated mathematically instead of weighing the aircraft, the same type of form shown in Figure 2 can be used. The only change would be the use of a four-column solution, instead of six columns, and there would be no tare weight or involvement with fuel and oil.
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Aircraft Weight and Balance Report
Results of Aircraft Weighing
Make________________________________ Model________________________________
Serial #______________________________ N#___________________________________
Datum Location_______________________________________________________________
Leveling Means_______________________________________________________________
Scale Arms: Nose________ Tail________ Left
Main________ Right Main_________
Scale Weights: Nose________ Tail________ Left
Main________ Right Main_________
Weight and Balance Calculation
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Item
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Scale (lb)
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Tare Wt. (lb)
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Net Wt. (lb)
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Arm (inches)
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Moment (in-lb)
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Nose
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Tail
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Left Main
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Right Main
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Subtotal
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Fuel
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Oil
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Misc.
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Total
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Aircraft Current Empty
Weight:____________________________________________________
Aircraft Current Empty Weight CG:
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Aircraft Maximum Weight:
_______________________________________________________
Aircraft Useful Load:
___________________________________________________________
Computed By: ___________________________________________ (print name)
___________________________________________
(signature)
Certificate #: _____________________________ (A&P, Repair
Station, etc.)
Date: ___________________
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RELATED POSTS
Weight and Balance Terminology
Procedures for Weighing an Aircraft
Loading an Aircraft for Flight
Equipment Change and Aircraft Alteration
Loading Graphs and CG Envelopes
