Flight Dream Reality

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• Ballast

Removable or permanently installed weight in an aircraft used to bring the center of gravity into the allowable range.

• CG Limits

The specified longitudinal (forward and aft) or lateral (left and right) points within which the CG must be located during flight. The CG limits are indicated in the airplane flight manual.

• CG Range

The distance between the forward and aft (or left and right) CG limits indicated in the airplane flight manual.

• Weight and Balance

The aircraft is said to be in weight and balance when the gross weight of the aircraft is under the max gross weight, and the center of gravity is within limits and will remain in limits for the duration of the flight.

• Reference Datum

A reference plane that allows accurate, and uniform, measurements to any point on the aircraft.

• Arm

The horizontal distance from the datum to any component of the aircraft or to any object located within the aircraft is called the ARM. Other terms used interchangeably with arm are fuselage station and centroid (on large transport category aircraft).

• Moment

If the weight of an object is multiplied by its arm, the result is known as its moment. The moment may be thought of as a force that results from an object’s weight acting at a distance. Moment is also referred to as the tendency of an object to rotate or pivot about a point. The farther an object is from a pivotal point, the greater its force.

• Center-of-gravity computation

By totaling the weights and moments of all components and objects carried, the point where a loaded aircraft will balance can be determined. This point is known as the center-of-gravity.