What are the main steps in planning weight and balance before flight?

• A. Estimate empty weight, add crew, passengers, baggage, and fuel; compute moments; sum and determine CG; ensure within the allowable envelope
• B. Compute CG first, then estimate empty weight, ignoring weight of fuel
• C. Only compute fuel weight
• D. Weigh the aircraft after flight

Answer: (A)

Weight and balance planning is about keeping the airplane’s center of gravity within the approved envelope for the expected takeoff weight. Start with the aircraft’s empty weight and moment from the published data. Then add everything you expect to be on board and fueled: crew, passengers, baggage, and the planned fuel load. For each item, multiply its weight by its arm (distance from the datum) and sum those moments with the empty-weight moment to get the total weight and total moment. Divide the total moment by the total weight to find the current center of gravity. Compare that CG to the aircraft’s approved range for the estimated takeoff weight; if it’s outside, adjust by relocating items, changing the fuel load, or reconfiguring baggage until the CG sits within limits. Confirm the final takeoff weight and CG before flight. Remember that fuel affects CG as it is burned and redistributed, so the initial configuration should account for that shift. Other approaches miss essential data by either skipping weight, ignoring fuel, or trying to assess balance after flight, which isn’t usable for safe preflight planning.