Cessna Module 9 | Flightinstructing

Required reading for this module:
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Chapter 10- Weight and Balance

Weight and Balance: Calculating on Paper

There are two common ways to calculate Weight and Balance for an aircraft:
- Using a Weight and Balance form and calculating the Center of Gravity for each station

-or-

Using a computer or tool like ForeFlight that performs the calculations for you.
It is important to understand how to calculate a Weight and Balance on paper. You will be required to do so on the written test.
The following video displays how to calculate Weight and Balance on paper:

Weight and Balance: Setting up in ForeFlight

Each aircraft, in order to remain airworthy, is required to have an updated Weight and Balance form that is always kept inside the airplane during any flight.
Any time that equipment is added or removed from the aircraft, the empty weight changes.
In order to accurately complete a Weight and Balance for any aircraft, we must know the Empty Weight of the aircraft at the time of the calculation.
The following form is the updated Weight and Balance that is kept inside the aircraft we are using:

The following tutorial from ForeFlight shows how to set up a Weight and Balance profile for your aircraft.
You will use the above 'New Empty Weight" for the aircraft's empty weight in setup, as well as the 'New C.G. (ARM)' for the aircraft's arm.
Remember: If you are using any other aircraft other than the one on this specific weight and balance, you will need to find its respective empty weight. Every aircraft is different.