Calculating the Traffic Load and MTOM

Question 1

What are the aircraft weight categories?

Answer 1

Normal: angles of bank of less than 60º, no aerobatic manoeuvres
Utility: angles of bank in excess of 60º, chandelles and lazy eights
Aerobatic: fully aerobatic

Question 2

Can you give me some examples of each category?

Answer 2

Air transport: normal category
Light aircraft (Piper Warrior, below a set mass): utility category
Pitts Specials: aerobatic

Question 3

Who is responsible for finding the mass of the variable load (VL)? what is another name for the variable load?

Answer 3

The operator
Operational Items

Question 4

What mass do we use when we calculate the VL?

Answer 4

VL is calculated with actual or standard crew and their baggage masses.

Question 5

According to the EU-OPS, what are the standard weights for flight and cabin crew?

Answer 5

• 85kg for flight crew including hand baggage
• 75 kg for cabin crew including hand baggage

Question 6

How do we consider hold baggage?

Answer 6

As part of the traffic load

Question 7

Can an operator use other standard masses acceptable to the Authority?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

How do we calculate the mass of the fuel loaded? How do we calculate if the density is not known?

Answer 8

From the actual density. If not known, according to an agreed method in the Operations Manual.

Question 9

What is the Traffic Load?

Answer 9

Traffic Load = mass of passengers + baggage + cargo + non-revenue load

Question 10

How is the mass of the cargo and non-revenue load determined?

Answer 10

By weighin

Question 11

How is the mass of passengers determined?

Answer 11

• Actual weights:
  o By a verbal statement (for 10 pax or less) and
  o Adding to it a pre-determined hand baggage and clothing weight or using standard tables
  The Operation Manual must lay down the procedure to be followed, invariably they use standard weights when EU-OPS permits it

Question 12

What’s the standard mass for passengers?

Answer 12

• Hand baggage (6kg) + babies not occupying a separate seat
• Children = infants with their own seat and children aged 2-12
• All standard masses values can be varied by negotiation with the authority.
• In any flight where the masses of passengers are expected to exceed the standard pax mass, the operator must determine the mass by:
  o Weighing or
  o By adding an adequate mass increment as approved by the Authority

Question 13

What are the standard baggage values in flights with 20 pax or more?

Answer 13

o If checked in baggage weight is expected to exceed standard baggage mass, the operator must determine that mass by:
 Weighing
 Adding an adequate mass increment

Question 14

What shall the operator ensure when baggage weight was weighted with a different method?

Answer 14

 Commander is advised when non-standard method has been used to determine the mass of the load
 Method is stated in the mass and balance documentation

Question 15

What are the standard baggage values in flights with 19 or less pax?

Answer 15

o Individual bags must be weighed

Question 16

What’s the capacity of the weighing machine?

Answer 16

At least 150 Kg

Question 17

How shall the mass be displayed in the weighin machine?

Answer 17

minimum graduations of 500 g

Question 18

What’s the accuracy of the weighing machine?

Answer 18

• Accurate to within 0.5% or 200g, whichever is greater

Question 19

In 19 pax seats or less:

How many columns do we have to account for seats numbers?

Answer 19

3.

1-5
6-9
and 10-19

Question 20

Can you complete the standard mass values in the summary?

Think of male, female and children weights in the different rows

Answer 20

Solution in summary

Question 21

What are the operator’s responsibilities when loading the aeroplane?

Answer 21

o Performed under the supervision of qualified personnel
o Loading of freight consistent with data used for the calculation of the aeroplane mass and balance
o Comply with additional structural limits such as:
 Floor strength limitations
 Maximum load per running metre
 Maximum mass per cargo compartment
 And/or maximum seating limits

Question 22

What are the changes thath need to be accounted for when determining the final position of the CG during flight?

Answer 22

• Fuel consumption/trasnfer
• Passenger/Crew movement, and
• Configuration changes

Question 23

What are the operational limits that are used to allow a margin of safety for these variations?

Answer 23

• Operational Take-off Limit
• Operational Zero Fuel Mass Limit
  o Ensures CG remains within CG envelope throughout the flight

Question 24

Where must the operator show fully account for the extreme variation in CG travel during flight and by whom/what is it caused?

Answer 24

In the Operating Data Manual
o Extreme variation in CG travel during flight caused by:
 Passenger/crew movement
 Fuel consumption/transfer

Question 25

In free seating:
What must the operator ensure should an extreme longitudinal seat selection occur?

Answer 25

• Operator must introduce procedures to ensure corrective action by flight or cabin crew if extreme longitudinal seat selection occurs.

Question 26

Free seating:
What must be acceptable to the Authority?

Answer 26

• CG margins and associated operational procedures, including assumptions with regard to passenger seating

Question 27

What documentation is the operator responsible for?

Answer 27

Mass and balance

Last minute changes (LMCs)

Question 28

What does the M&B documentation need to specify?

Answer 28

Before each flight:

a. load and distribution so that commander can determine that the mass and balance limits are not exceeded

Question 29

What happens if LMCs are in excess of a predetermined maximum value?

Answer 29

a. New mass and balance documentation must be prepared

Question 30

What can you say about the person who prepares the documents? What must the loading supervisor do? What about the the aircraft commander?

Answer 30

1. Must put his/her Name on them
2. Loading supervisor must sign them to confirm that the load and its distribution are in accordance with the mass and balance documentation
3. Aircraft Commander accepts the documentation as correct by signing it

Question 31

What are the things an operator must do when using a computerized system to generate mass and balance documentation?

What are the intervals of the verifications to ensure the system works on a continuous basis?

Answer 31

i. Operator must verify:
1. Integrity of the output data
ii. Operator must establish a system to check:
1. That amendments of his input data are incorporated properly in the system
2. That the system is operating correctly on a continuous basis by verifying the output data at intervals not exceeding 6 months

Question 32

What must an operator do if he/she wishes to use an on-board mass and balance computer systems as a primary source of dispatch?

Answer 32

must obtain the approval of the Authority

Question 33

What must be available on the ground when mass and balance documentation is sent to an aircraft via datalink?

Answer 33

i. When mass&balance documentation is sent to an aircraft via datalink (ACARS), a copy of the final mass and balance documentation as accepted by the commander must be available on the ground.

Question 34

What is the formula for the Maximum Take Off Mass?

Answer 34

MTOM = DOM + Fuel on board + Maximum Permissible Traffic Load

Question 34

What is the formula for the Maximum Permissible Traffic Load?

Answer 34

MPTL = MTOM - DOM - Fuel on board

Question 35

What’s the formula for the AUM?

Answer 35

AUM = DOM + Fuel + Traffic Load

Question 36

What’s the formula for the Useful Load?

Answer 36

Useful Load = Traffic Load + Fuel

Question 37

What’s the formula for the ZFM?

Answer 37

ZFM = DOM + Traffic Load

Question 38

What’s the formula for the Operating Mass?

Answer 38

Operating Mass = DOM + Fuel