Lesson 6 Weight and Balance Flashcards
What is the importance of weight and balance in aircraft operation?
Improper loading decreases efficiency and performance. Aircraft can only perform safely and efficiently when operated as intended.
Proper weight and balance control is crucial for safe and efficient aircraft operation.
What is a Reference Datum?
An imaginary vertical plane or line from which all horizontal distances or arms are measured for balance purposes.
All moment arms and the location of CG range are measured from this point.
Define ‘Station’ in the context of aircraft.
A location along the aircraft fuselage usually given in terms of distance from the reference datum.
Stations help in determining weight distribution along the aircraft.
What is an ‘Arm’?
The horizontal distance from the reference datum to the CG of an item, with positive or negative signs based on its position relative to the datum.
Positive if aft of the datum, negative if forward.
What does ‘Moment’ refer to in weight and balance?
A force that causes or tends to cause an object to rotate, calculated as weight multiplied by arm (W x A = M).
Moments are crucial for determining balance in aircraft.
What is the Center of Gravity (CG)?
The point at which an aircraft would balance if suspended, determined by dividing total moment by total weight.
CG is expressed in inches from the reference datum.
What are CG Limits?
Extreme CG locations within which the helicopter must be operated at a given weight.
Staying within CG limits is essential for flight safety.
Define ‘Usable Fuel’.
The fuel available for flight planning.
This fuel can be reliably used during flight operations.
What is ‘Unusable Fuel’?
Fuel remaining in the tank that cannot reliably provide uninterrupted fuel flow in critical flight attitudes.
Understanding unusable fuel is important for accurate flight planning.
What is ‘Standard Empty Weight’?
Weight of a standard helicopter including unusable fuel, full operating fluids, and full engine oil.
Standard empty weight serves as a baseline for calculations.
Define ‘Basic Empty Weight’.
Standard empty weight plus weight of installed optional equipment.
This weight is critical for determining useful load.
What does ‘Payload’ refer to?
Weight of occupants, cargo, and baggage.
Payload is critical for calculating total weight limits.
What is ‘Useful Load’?
Difference between maximum gross weight and basic empty weight.
Useful load indicates how much additional weight can be carried.
What should be calculated whenever weight is added or removed?
Weight and balance must be recalculated as the center of gravity will change.
This ensures compliance with safety limits throughout the flight.
What are the effects of operating at high total weights?
Could result in structural deformation or failure during flight if encountering excessive load factors, strong wind gusts, or turbulence.
Safety margins must be maintained to prevent accidents.
True or False: It is safe to take off at maximum gross weight under all conditions.
False
Some conditions may make taking off at maximum gross weight unsafe.
What is the effect of out-of-balance loading?
Can lead to instability and difficulty in controlling the aircraft during flight.
Proper loading is essential for maintaining flight control.
