Weight, Balance, and Center of Gravity
- Episode: core-09
- Version: 0.1.4
- Source verification: Publication-day FAA/eCFR link, locator, show-note, and claim-relevance validation completed August 26, 2026.
In this episode
- Why total weight and center of gravity are separate limit checks.
- How datum, arm, and moment turn a physical loading into a calculation.
- Which current aircraft-specific data must anchor a valid loading decision.
- How computational, graph, table, and electronic methods express the same relationships.
- How forward and aft CG affect stability, control forces, and control authority.
- How loading weight feeds takeoff, climb, cruise, and landing performance planning.
- Why fuel burn requires weight-and-CG checks across relevant phases of flight.
- How to correct an unacceptable load without creating a new fuel or performance problem.
- Why every item must remain secured at the station used in the calculation.
Study materials and visual aids
- Private Pilot ACS — Performance and Limitations knowledge and risk management
- Private Pilot ACS — Weight-and-balance computation skills
- PHAK Chapter 10 — Datum, arm, moment, and balance figures
- PHAK Chapter 10 visual aid — Computational method and sample worksheet
- PHAK Chapter 10 — Loading graph and CG moment envelope
Fact-check and source material
| Topic | Source type | Authoritative source | Locator | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo and item securement | FAA regulatory standard | Private Pilot ACS — Flight Deck Management cargo securement | PA.II.B.K4 and S1, p. 13 | 2026-08-26 |
| Separate weight and CG hazards | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Introduction and Weight Control | Introduction and Weight Control, p. 10-1 | 2026-08-26 |
| Weight effects, fuel tradeoff, and variable CG | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Effects of Weight and Center of Gravity | Effects of Weight through Balance, Stability, and Center of Gravity, p. 10-2 | 2026-08-26 |
| Forward- and aft-CG effects | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Effects of Adverse Balance | Effects of Adverse Balance through Stability and Center of Gravity, p. 10-3 | 2026-08-26 |
| Current aircraft data and loading tradeoffs | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Management of Weight and Balance Control | Management of Weight and Balance Control, p. 10-4 | 2026-08-26 |
| Datum, arm, moment, useful load, and computation principles | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Terms and Principles | Terms and Definitions through Principles of Weight and Balance Computations, p. 10-5 | 2026-08-26 |
| Ramp, takeoff, landing, and load-shifting checks | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Flight phases and shifting weight | Figure 10-11 and Shifting, Adding, and Removing Weight, p. 10-10 | 2026-08-26 |
| Fuel burn and addition or removal of weight | FAA guidance | PHAK Chapter 10 — Weight Addition or Removal | Weight Addition or Removal and Chapter Summary, p. 10-11 | 2026-08-26 |
| Approved operating limitations and current manual material | Regulation | 14 CFR § 91.9 | § 91.9(a)–(b) | 2026-08-26 |
Correction status
Corrections and source updates are recorded in the episode production log before a revised version is published. Submit a source correction through the repository issue form or email [email protected]. Do not send credentials, private documents, or personal flight information.