mass and balance ( chapter 2 > required skills and knowledge )

All up mass consists of …

1. Basic empty mass

2. Variable load

3. Traffic load

4. Fuel

Basic empty mass consists of …

1. The empty, clean aircraft

2. Any unstable fuel

3. The full quantity of operating liquids e.g hydraulic, engine fluid

4. Safety equipment

5. Electronic equipment

Variable load consists of …

1. The crew and their baggage

2. The catering and other removable passenger service equipment

3. Food, beverages and portable drinking water

4. Lavatory chemicals

5. Special operational equipment e.g oxygen mask

Traffic load consists of …

1. Mass of passengers and their baggage

2. Cargo

3. Non revenue load

Dry operating mass =

Basic empty mass + variable load

Useful load =

Traffic load + fuel

Zero fuel mass =

Dry operating mass + traffic load

Take off mass =

mass of aircraft at start of take off from departure airport

Landing mass =

Mass of aircraft at touchdown at the destination airport

Ramp and taxi mass =

Mass of the aircraft before engine start

Maximum masses fall into two categories =

1. Structural

2. Performance

Maximum take off mass

Is the absolute maximum permissible aircraft mass at the start of the take off run

Maximum inflight mass

Is the maximum permissible total of mass of thr aircraft in flight

Maximum zero fuel mass

Is the maximum permissible mass of on aircraft with no usable fuel

Regulated take off mass

Is the maximum permitted takeoff mass, which complies with both structural and performance take off limitations

Regulated landing mass

Is the maximum permitted landing mass, which complies with both structural and performance landing mass limitations

Performance limited take off mass

Is the maximum take off mass allowable to comply with departure performance limitations such as runway distance

Performance limited landing mass

Is the maximum landing mass allowable to comply with landing runway limitations such as runway distance

The structural limitations protect

Aircraft’s structure, keeping stresses and strains within designed limits

Performance mass limits ensure

That the aircraft is light enough to complete a take off and landing within availed distances