Weight & Balance

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 Definitions
 Total Traffic Load.
The total weight of passengers, baggage and cargo, including any non-revenue loads.

 Dry Operating Weight (DOW)

The total weight of the airplane ready for a specific type of operation excluding all usable
fuels and traffic load. This weight includes items such as:
1. Crew and crew baggage;
2. Catering and removable passenger service equipment; and
3. Potable water and lavatory chemicals

 Maximum Zero Fuel Weight. (MZFW)

The maximum weight of an airplane with no usable fuel.

 Maximum Structural Landing weight. (MLW)

The maximum permissible total aeroplane weight upon landing under normal
circumstances. This is the maximum structural limit and must not be mistaken with the
"MAXIMUM ALLOWED WEIGHT FOR LANDING" which also considers any additional
performance limitations.

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 Definitions
 Maximum Allowed Weight For Landing
The maximum allowed mass for landing considers:
1. The maximum (structural) landing weight and
2. The maximum permitted landing weight for performance reasons.

 Maximum Structural Take-Off Weight .(MTOW)

The maximum permissible total aeroplane weight at the start of the take off run. This is
the maximum structural limit and must not be mistaken with the "MAXIMUM ALLOWED
MASS FOR TAKE OFF" which also considers any additional performance limitations for
a particular route

 Maximum Allowed Weight For Take off

The maximum allowed mass for take-off for a specific flight considers:
1. The maximum (structural) take-off mass
2. The maximum permitted take-off mass as limited by performance reasons
and the calculated trip fuel, to assure that the maximum permitted landing
mass is not exceeded.

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 Definitions
 Passenger Classification
1. Adults, male and female, are defined as persons of an age of 12 years and above
2. Children are defined as persons of an age of two years and above, but who are
less than 12 years of age
3. Infants are defined as persons who are less than 2 years of age

 Maximum Approved Passenger Seating Configuration

The maximum passenger seating capacity of an individual aeroplane, excluding pilot
seats or flight deck seats and cabin crew seats as applicable, used by the operator,
approved by the Authority and specified in the OM Part B.

 Dry Operating index (DOI)

The applicable index on the aeroplane index system corresponding to the specific DOM

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 Definitions
 Ballast Weight
Ballast is removable or permanently such as sand bags or fuel installed weight in
an aircraft used to bring the center of gravity into the allowable range.

 Last Minute Change (LMC)

A late balance sheet which does not require the preparation of a new mass and balance
sheet if the changes/amendments to the existing mass and balance sheet do not exceed
500 kgs .

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 Mass Values for Crew

Crew Position Standard Mass Including Hand Baggage

Flight Crew 85 kg

Cabin Crew 75 kg

Standard Mass values for passengers

Passengers Mass (kg)
Holiday Charter Other Flights
Adult Child Male Female Adult Child Male Female
76 35 83 69 84 35 88 70

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 Standard Mass values for baggage
Type of Flight Baggage Standard Mass
Domestic 11 kg
Within the European Region 13 kg
International 15 kg
All other 13 kg

European region

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 Cargo Compartments

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 Cargo Compartments

The forward (FWD) and the aft cargo doors open outward and upward, and can only be
opened from the out side .They are hydraulically operated and mechanically locked.
The bulk cargo door manually operated and opens to the inside.

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 Cargo Compartments

 The aircraft is equipped with 3 lower holds which are divided into 4 compartments.

 The forward hold 1 numbered FWD CPT 1,

 The aft holds are numbered AFT CPT 3 and 4 (accessible from the same door) and

 AFT Bulk CPT 5, which is the rear hold accessible through its own door.

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 Loading

 Fwd Compartment and galley shall always be loaded first and unloaded last.

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 Loading
Cargo Compartments Loading
The loading shall not obstruct the area within 2 inches of the compartment ceiling.
Black & white placards along the top of the compartments indicate the area where
loading shall not intrude. This applies to the full length of each bulk hold.
Maximum Bulk Loading Height – A320

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 Cargo Compartments
 Each compartment is divided into net sections, two types of nets
1. Partition nets
2. Door Net

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 Cargo Compartments

FWD CPT 1 (Forward Hold)

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 Cargo Compartments

FWD CPT 3 & 4 (AFT Hold)

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 Cargo Compartments

AFT Bulk CPT 5

Divider net

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 Passenger Cabin

 The passenger cabin is divided into tree sections for weight and balance purposes.
Section OA, OB and OC

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 Manual Load Sheet
IATA Layout

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 DRY Operating Mass and Index Sheet

Guide Line for Load Distribution

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 Practice Example-Manual Loadsheet

 Flight from Stockholm - Arlanda (ARN) to Heraklion –Creta (HER).

 Flight Number AIR 123
 Aircraft Registration F-ABC
 Version 180Y
 Crew 2 cockpit and 4 Cabin crew
 Date of the flight 01/08/2017
 European Flight
 Block Fuel 13500 Kgs
 Taxi Fuel 200 Kgs
 Trip Fuel 9400 kgs
 RTOW 77,000 kgs
 PAX 172 adult, 8 children ,3 infant
 Passenger distribution : 54 PAX in OA, 60 in OB , 66 PAX in OC
 Baggage and cargo : 2,340 kg baggage, 195 kg transit load, 134kg cargo
 Distribution: TR 195kg in COMP3, Baggage 300kg in COMP3, 1235kg in COMP4,
610kg in COMP 5. Cargo 134kg in COMP3.

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 1
2
8
3 6 7
4 5

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 Enter the actual passenger
distribution per cabin section and
total number of passengers
onboard in the “Passenger
Distribution” box

Obtain and enter Dry Operating

Index from the “Dry Operation Mass
and Index” form

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 Find the Take-Off Fuel Index and enter it.
Note! Take-Off fuel index can be both negative
and positive

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Plot intersections for LIZFM vs. Actual Zero Fuel Mass and LITOM vs. Actual Take-off Mass in the
envelope. Ensure they are within limits.
Obtain “%MAC” against the slanting lines and note value in the box.
Enter the %MAC value in the FMS to obtain the STAB TRIM setting. There is also a Stabilizer Trim
Setting table at the bottom of the Mass and Index sheet

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 Last Minute Change
If, after having completed the, there is need for minor adjustments, use Last Minute Change

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 EDP Loadsheet
With computerized Load control systems, cargo, mail and passenger boarding information are
interconnected. Computerized loadsheet is checked by the commander similar to manual
loadsheet.
According to IATA AHM 517, an EDP loadsheet must look like the following example:

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 EDP Balance Calculation Methods
The balance information shall be printed on EDP loadsheet or ACARS loadsheet in a specific box
called Balance and seating condition. according to the carrier requirement as per AHM 560.
The system should be able to check the weight and balance limitations, and forbid the print out of
the loadsheet when the limits are exceeded

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