SUAS Loading and Center of Gravity Flashcards
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Who is primarily responsible for ensuring an sUAS is loaded correctly and operated within weight and balance limitations?
Answer: The Remote Pilot in Command (PIC).
According to 14 CFR Part 107, the Remote Pilot in Command (PIC) is directly responsible for, and is the final authority on, the safe operation of the sUAS. This includes preflight checks of loading, weight, and balance.
What is a likely consequence of operating an sUAS with a center of gravity (CG) that is too far forward?
Answer: Higher stalling speed.
A forward CG makes the aircraft nose-heavy, which increases longitudinal stability. However, it requires more tail-down force to maintain level flight, which increases the total lift required from the wing and results in a higher stalling speed.
What is a potential effect of operating an sUAS above its maximum gross weight?
Answer: Reduced maneuverability and endurance.
Operating an aircraft above its maximum gross weight requires more power to generate the necessary lift, which significantly reduces flight time and endurance. The increased mass also makes the aircraft less responsive to control inputs.
An sUAS is loaded with its center of gravity (CG) at the most aft limit. What flight characteristic should the remote pilot expect?
Answer: The sUAS will be unstable and difficult to recover from a stall.
An aft CG reduces longitudinal stability, making the aircraft tail-heavy and twitchy in the pitch axis. This instability makes it very difficult to recover from a stall, as the aircraft may not have enough elevator authority to lower the nose.
The term 'arm' in weight and balance calculations refers to the:
Answer: Horizontal distance from the reference datum.
In weight and balance terminology, the 'arm' is the horizontal distance from the reference datum to the center of gravity of an item. The 'moment' is then calculated by multiplying the weight of the item by its arm.
If a new payload is added to an sUAS, what must the Remote PIC do before flight?
Answer: Recalculate weight and balance to ensure it is within limits.
Any change to the aircraft's loading, such as adding a new camera or sensor, requires the Remote PIC to verify that the total weight and the new center of gravity are within the manufacturer's specified limits. This is a critical preflight action.