Are any of you a commercial airline pilot? Id like to ask a question. If so heres my question, or if anyone else knowledable would know:
for the gross take off weight of a jet per its maximum, say for example a 757, how does the pilot know if its overloaded or not? they dont drive across scales like 18 wheelers do?
THE BEST ADVENTURES START WITH.......HERE, HOLD MY BEER !
Pat
Posts: 220 | Location: Booneville, Mississippi -formerly from So. California | Registered: May 28, 2007
I am a helo air crewman. I fly in small helo's, for us we are very weight limited as is any aircraft. We do a weight and balance calculation before flights taking into account personnel weights with survival gear,weapons and ammo load as well as the dry weight of the aircraft and fuel load. Depending on all mission essential gear the fuel load is adjusted accordingly.
I imagine the process for a commercial airline is the same, an ass in every seat plus maximum allowable luggage per person,fuel and such is probably a safe percentage below the max gross weight the aircraft is capable of carrying safely.
There is probably a little more to it than that but, I am on the right track I think.
I am a helo air crewman. I fly in small helo's, for us we are very weight limited as is any aircraft. We do a weight and balance calculation before flights taking into account personnel weights with survival gear,weapons and ammo load as well as the dry weight of the aircraft and fuel load. Depending on all mission essential gear the fuel load is adjusted accordingly.
I imagine the process for a commercial airline is the same, an ass in every seat plus maximum allowable luggage per person,fuel and such is probably a safe percentage below the max gross weight the aircraft is capable of carrying safely.
There is probably a little more to it than that but, I am on the right track I think.
see ya
Mike
Thanks alot Mike for the good explanation !!
THE BEST ADVENTURES START WITH.......HERE, HOLD MY BEER !
Pat
Posts: 220 | Location: Booneville, Mississippi -formerly from So. California | Registered: May 28, 2007
I am not a pilot but I used o work at an airport. They figure an average weight for each passenger, (there is talk of upping that as we get fatter) and for eaxh piece of baggage, that is one reason he airlines are being more stringent about baggage weights. then there is the cargo they all carry. The pilot gets a weight and balance sheet from ops before take off. I saw them ask 15 passengers to get off once to fly the mail. Each passenger was given a $1500 voucher for the missed flight.
Good people sleep at night knowing there are rough men ready to do violence on their behalf
Posts: 1691 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: November 19, 2004
I work in the corporate executive market, often when a plane comes in for heavy maintenance or interior modifications, they ask to have the aircraft weighed. We do this so they know what number to use for calculations. Also, when we paint an aircraft, they need to know how many coats of paint we used so that they can add this into calculations for weight and balance.
I heard from someone at American airlines that they saved a bundle when they stopped painting the aircraft and went to plain aluminium and stripes. I guess that story is true, thanks for the info
Good people sleep at night knowing there are rough men ready to do violence on their behalf
Posts: 1691 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: November 19, 2004
