AM Aircraft Weight & Balance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the term for the point at which an aircraft would balance if suspended?
- Datum
- Center of Gravity (Correct answer)
- Mean Aerodynamic Chord
- Neutral Point
Correct answer: Center of Gravity
The center of gravity (CG) is the point at which all of the aircraft's weight is considered to act and where it would balance if suspended.
Question 2: What is the 'datum' in aircraft weight and balance?
- The heaviest point on the aircraft
- A vertical reference plane from which all horizontal distances are measured (Correct answer)
- The aircraft's center of gravity location
- The maximum allowable takeoff weight
Correct answer: A vertical reference plane from which all horizontal distances are measured
The datum is an imaginary vertical reference plane from which all horizontal distances are measured for weight and balance purposes.
Question 3: Which document lists the empty weight, empty weight CG, and useful load of a certificated aircraft?
- Aircraft Airworthiness Certificate
- Weight and Balance Report (Correct answer)
- Aircraft Flight Manual
- Maintenance Release Form
Correct answer: Weight and Balance Report
The Weight and Balance Report (or equipment list) contains the aircraft's empty weight, empty weight CG location, and useful load.
Question 4: What formula is used to calculate the moment of an object in weight and balance?
- Moment = Weight ÷ Arm
- Moment = Weight × Arm (Correct answer)
- Moment = Arm ÷ Weight
- Moment = Weight + Arm
Correct answer: Moment = Weight × Arm
Moment is calculated by multiplying the weight of an object by its arm (distance from the datum), expressed as inch-pounds.
Question 5: An aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 3,400 lbs and an empty weight of 2,100 lbs. What is its useful load?
- 5,500 lbs
- 1,300 lbs (Correct answer)
- 2,100 lbs
- 3,400 lbs
Correct answer: 1,300 lbs
Useful load is the difference between maximum gross weight and empty weight: 3,400 − 2,100 = 1,300 lbs.
Question 6: What is 'basic empty weight' of an aircraft?
- The weight with full fuel and no passengers
- The weight of the airframe, engines, and all installed equipment, including unusable fuel and full operating fluids (Correct answer)
- The weight with all optional equipment removed
- The weight of the aircraft minus crew and baggage
Correct answer: The weight of the airframe, engines, and all installed equipment, including unusable fuel and full operating fluids
Basic empty weight includes the airframe, engines, all permanently installed equipment, unusable fuel, and full operating fluids such as oil and hydraulic fluid.
Question 7: If the computed CG falls outside the aft CG limit, what is the result?
- Increased stability and reduced stall speed
- Reduced longitudinal stability, making recovery from a stall more difficult (Correct answer)
- Increased fuel efficiency due to reduced drag
- No effect on flight characteristics
Correct answer: Reduced longitudinal stability, making recovery from a stall more difficult
An aft CG reduces longitudinal stability, decreases the effectiveness of elevator control, and makes it harder to recover from a stall.
AM Aircraft Weight & Balance 1
What is the term for the point at which an aircraft would balance if suspended?