Aircraft weight and balance calculations involve calculating the aircraft’s total weight and ensuring that its Center of Gravity (CG) is within the manufacturer’s specified limits.

Two elements are vital in the weight and balance considerations of an aircraft. [1]

• The total weight of the aircraft must be no greater than the maximum weight allowed by the FAA for the make and model of the aircraft.
• The center of gravity (CG), or the point at which all of the weight of the aircraft is considered to be concentrated, must be maintained within the allowable range for the operational weight of the aircraft.

All pilots are required to know and comply with the operating limitations specified for the aircraft in the approved Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or as otherwise prescribed by the regulator (FAR §91.9). However, the regulations for each scope of operations vary when it comes to requiring weight and balance to be calculated pre-flight.

This is important to keep in mind when taking a look at the last 10 years of NTSB Accident data, there are only 4 scopes of operations that have had accidents, with findings related to maximum weight and/or Center of gravity/Weight distribution.

The number of weight and balance-related accidents for Part 91 and Part 137 operations is more than for any of the other scopes. 2022 and 2023 had accidents for Part 135 single-engine operations as well. It is important to note that there have been no accidents in the past 10 years for Part 121 operations with findings related to maximum weight and/or Center of gravity/Weight distribution.

Let’s discuss possible controls at the Safety Round Table below!

[1] FAA Weight and Balance Handbook, FAA-H-8083-1B, 2016

SAFETY ROUND TABLE