Accurate aircraft weight and balance control is essential for safe flight operations and regulatory compliance. Every aircraft must operate within specific weight and center of gravity (CG) limits to ensure proper stability, controllability, and structural integrity. Maintenance technicians and engineers must understand how weight distribution affects aircraft performance and how to properly calculate and verify weight and balance after maintenance actions, repairs, or alterations.
This guide provides a structured overview of the principles, calculations, and procedures used to determine aircraft weight and balance. It covers both theoretical concepts and practical methods used in aviation maintenance, including weighing procedures, CG calculations, and weight and balance considerations for different aircraft categories such as single-engine airplanes, multiengine aircraft, helicopters, and larger transport aircraft.
Who This Guide Is For
Designed for Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) students, aircraft mechanics, maintenance engineers, and aviation instructors, this guide provides foundational knowledge required for understanding aircraft weight and balance. It is particularly useful for those preparing for aircraft maintenance certification, technical training programs, or professional maintenance operations where accurate weight and balance control is critical for safe aircraft operation.
Weight and Balance Study Modules
1. Weight and Balance Control
Introduces the principles and procedures used to manage aircraft weight and center of gravity to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.
2. Weight and Balance Theory
Explains the fundamental concepts of moments, arms, and center of gravity that form the basis of aircraft weight and balance calculations.
3. Weighing the Aircraft & Determining Empty Weight CG
Describes procedures used to weigh an aircraft and accurately determine its empty weight and center of gravity location.
4. Weight-Shift, Powered Parachute & Amateur-Built Aircraft
Examines weight and balance considerations unique to weight-shift-control aircraft, powered parachutes, and amateur-built aircraft.
5. Single-Engine Aircraft Computations
Covers calculation methods used to determine safe loading and center of gravity limits for single-engine aircraft.
6. Multiengine Aircraft Computations
Explains weight and balance calculations used to maintain safe loading conditions in multiengine aircraft.
7. Center of Gravity Change After Repair or Alteration
Discusses how aircraft repairs, modifications, or equipment installations affect center of gravity and required documentation updates.
8. Weight and Balance Control — Helicopter
Explains helicopter-specific weight and balance considerations affecting stability, control, and operational safety.
9. Commuter Category & Large Aircraft
Describes weight and balance control practices used for commuter category airplanes and larger transport aircraft.
10. Computer Weight and Balance Calculations
Explains how computer systems and software tools are used to perform accurate aircraft weight and balance computations.