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Beware of the Weight Shift

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • It is important to perform at least two weight and balance calculations before flight: one for takeoff and another for the estimated landing weight after fuel burn.
  • While overall weight decreases, burning fuel can cause the aircraft's center of gravity (CG) to shift, potentially moving outside safe limits and compromising control.
  • Verifying that both takeoff and estimated landing weight and CG are within their respective envelopes ensures the aircraft remains safe throughout the entire flight.
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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