Aircraft Scales: Need and Requirements for Aircraft WeighingPosted by Bennett Hill on January 29th, 2021 The weight of an aircraft and its balance is very important for safely operating an aircraft. When a plane manufacturer designs an aircraft and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifies it, the specifications recognize the aircraft’s maximum limits and the weight within which it must balance. Safety is the main reason for concern about an aircraft’s balance and weight. Improper loading reduces an aircraft's efficiency from the standpoint of ceiling, maneuverability, rate of climb, speed, and fuel consumption. If an airplane is loaded so that it is hugely nose-heavy, higher than regular forces will need to be applied at the tail to keep the plane in level flight. The higher than regular forces at the bottom will create additional drag, which will require extra engine power and, therefore, extra fuel flow to maintain airspeed. The most appropriate condition for an aircraft is to have a point where it balances drop very close to or maybe precisely at, the aircraft’s center of lift. After the aircraft leaves the factory and is delivered to its owner, the requirement or need for placing the airplane on scales and reweighing it differs depending on the type of aircraft and how it is used. If the balance and weight report for an aircraft is lost, the craft must be weighed and a new report must be created. If the plane has new equipment installed, such as a radio, a new balance and weight report must be created. If the equipment installer wants to place the aircraft on scales and weigh it after the installation, making the new report is quite acceptable. Think about this, over time, planes tend to gain weight. Examples of this can include an airplane being repainted without the old paint being removed and the accumulation of grease, dirt, and oil in parts of the aircraft that are not readily available for cleaning. When new equipment is installed and its location and weight are mathematically considered, some miscellaneous weight might be overlooked, such as hardware and wire. For this reason, even if the FAA does not need it, it is a good practice to periodically place an aircraft on scales and verify its actual empty weight and empty weight center of gravity. Some aircraft must be weighed and have their center of gravity calculated periodically, typically every three years. While aircraft weighing is specialty work, the process is easier than you might think if you find the right shop. That includes using a weighing service with certified and calibrated scales explicitly designed for weighing aircraft. Prepare Aircraft For Weighing Drain the fuel tank until the quantity reading zero, or empty, with the aircraft in a level attitude. If any fuel is left in the chambers, the aircraft will weigh more, and all later calculations for proper balance and load will be affected. Only unusable or trapped fuel (residual fuel) is considered part of the aircraft's empty weight. Fuel tank caps should be placed at the correct locations so that the weight distribution will be accurate. Are you looking for aircraft scales? Click here to get the right scale that meets your needs and requirements, at an affordable price.
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