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Beware of the Weight Shift

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots must perform a weight and balance calculation before any flight to ensure the aircraft is within weight limits and the center of gravity (CG) is within range.
  • While fuel burn reduces total weight, it can cause the center of gravity to shift, potentially moving it outside the safe operating envelope during flight.
  • To ensure safety throughout the flight, pilots should conduct two weight and balance calculations: one for takeoff and another for the estimated landing weight after fuel burn.
See a mistake? Contact us.

You already know that it is important to do a weight and balance calculation prior to any flight to make sure you don’t put too much weight in the airplane and that the center of gravity is within the published limits. But you may not realize that you should do at least two weight and balance calculations.

As you burn off fuel during your flight the weight clearly is reduced. A reduction in weight is only going to bring you further under the max gross weight and is not going to affect the safety of your flight.

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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