AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE - Reference BCAR A5-4 or JAR-25.23 -29

After an aircraft has been constructed, painted and can be said to be ‘representative of its true empty (or flying) weight' depending on circumstances, it must be weighed.

Once the aircraft has been weighed, the calculations of the Take-off weight may be carried out. The centre of gravity calculations can also be made.

The aircraft will then be weighed at defined periods throughout its life, again in accordance with BCAR A5-4 or JAR-OPS.

Definitions

BASIC WEIGHT - This is the weight of the aircraft and all of its basic equipment, plus that of the declared quantity of unusable fuel and unusable oil. In the case of turbine-engined aircraft and aircraft whose Maximum Take-Off Mass does not exceed 5700kg, it may also include the weight of the usable oil.

BASIC EQUIPMENT - This consists of the unconsumable fluids and the equipment which is common to all roles for which the operator intends to use the aircraft.

VARIABLE LOAD - This is the weight of the crew, the crew's baggage, removable units and other equipment. (The carriage of which depends on the role for which the operator intends to use the aircraft for the particular flight.

DISPOSABLE LOAD - This is the weight of all persons and items of load, including fuel and other consumable fluids, carried in the aircraft, other than the Basic Equipment and Variable Load.

NOTE: To obtain the Total Weight it is necessary to add to the basic weight, the weights of those Variable and Disposable Load items which are to be carried for the particular role that the aircraft is being used for.