Module Four

Determination of CG Position
Mass and Balance - Aeroplanes
Purpose of Mass and Balance
Considerations

Loading

Mass and Balance Details of Aircraft

Determination of CG Position

Cargo Handling
End-of-Module Objective
In a classroom, given with lecture discussions,
exercises and self-reading.

Determine CG position using different methods and

reposition CG by shifting weights and using ballast
weights.

In accordance with the procedures stipulated in

Jeppesen Mass and Balance EASA ATPL Training
book.
Intermediate Objectives
• Determine the CG position of an aircraft by using formula
and loading graph method
• Explain the principle of the index method
• Explain the principle and the purpose of load and trim sheets
• Explain repositioning of CG by shifting weight and using
ballast weights
Module Lessons
Lesson One

Methods
Lesson Two Lesson Three

Load
And Repositioning
Trim Sheet Of CG
Lesson 1

Methods
Methods
• Generally, two different methods exist to determine
the centre of gravity of an aircraft, the arithmetic
method and the graphic method.
Methods
Arithmetic Method
• The Arithmetic method lists the individual masses and
moment arms in a table and calculates the individual
moments those.
• The tables (loading plans) are contained in the Pilot's
Operating Handbook (POH). The Basic Empty Mass
(BEM) and all relevant moment arms are already given.
Methods
Methods
• The current individual masses are then entered into the form
according to the intended loading.
• Thereafter, all masses are multiplied by their moment arms to
determine the individual moments.
• To define the centre of gravity; for various masses (Basic
Empty Mass, Zero Fuel Mass, Ramp Mass, Take-Off Mass),
the respective total moment is then divided by the
corresponding total mass to find the CG position.
• The following image shows a completed loading plan.
Methods
Methods
• The next step is to confirm that the CG position of all
masses is located within the specified limits.
• The heaviest relevant mass is TOM, the lightest
would be ZFM, at which the aircraft might
theoretically still be airborne.
• The planned Landing Mass is somewhere between the
TOM and ZFM.
Methods
• The CG position for the calculated Landing Mass is
also calculated.
• If all three relevant masses have their CG within the
envelope, the correct loading has been verified.
• The following diagram corresponds to the loading
plan above.
Methods
Methods
Graphic Method
• Instead of multiplication of mass and moment arm,
so-called "loading graphs" are often employed.
• The Loading Graph is used instead of the table to
determine the individual moments.
• The information can simply be read off from them
and applied. Each line represents a certain moment
arm (loading position).
Methods
Methods
• The further aft a mass is located within the aircraft,
the greater the moment for equal mass, and the
shallower the slope of the appropriate straight
in the loading graph.
• This way, the individual moments can be determined
graphically, entered the corresponding form and
added up.
Methods
Example
• Pilot and front passenger have a total weight of 340 pounds. A
moment of 29.1-inch lbs/1,000 can be derived from the loading graph
• If the passengers in the centre have a total mass of 320 pounds, the
resulting moment is 38.6-inch lbs/1,000.
• All masses and moments determined that way are entered into the
corresponding form and the total moment is computed by addition of
the individual moments.
• The total moment is then divided by the total mass to calculate the
position of the CG.
Methods
Index Method
• When determining the CG, the corresponding values
(moments) are often quite large and difficult to
calculate.
• Therefore, a method has been developed to reduce the
values describing the CG position to a more
manageable size.
• The Index Method was introduced for this purpose.
Methods
• The "Index" is a dimensionless figure for the CG
position that can be calculated from the total moment
using the "Index Formula".
• The Dry Operating Index describes the position of the
CG for the DOM.
• DOI = DOM(arm-650) +50
20000
 Lesson 2

Load and Trim Sheet

Load and Trim Sheet
General Considerations
• The practical pre-flight preparation is conducted using
so-called "Load and Trim Sheets".
• The load sheet is the form in which all relevant masses
are entered and calculated in a standardised format.
• The trim sheet is the form on which the CG
determination is performed according to a standard
pattern.
Load and Trim Sheet
Load Sheet for Large Aeroplanes
• The mass and balance calculation for larger
aeroplanes are usually carried out with the help of
combined forms, the so-called “load and trim sheets”.
• The L&T sheet of the MRJT1 (the flight is from
Frankfurt (FRA) to Hamburg (HAM), will serve as an
example.
Load and Trim Sheet
Load and Trim Sheet
• Traffic load
• 118 adult passengers, 84 kg per passenger
• 111 pieces of baggage, 15 kg each
• 350 kg of cargo, loaded in CPT. 1
• 250 kg of mail, loaded in CPT. 1

Zone: A B C D E F G

No. of Pax: 12 15 20 20 21 18 1
Load and Trim Sheet
• The following image shows an entire MRJT1 L&T
sheet.
• It is subdivided into two parts.
• The left part A is the load sheet.
• The right part B is the trim sheet.
Load and Trim Sheet
Load and Trim Sheet
• We will first examine the left upper part of the load
sheet.

• These first three lines contain the administration and

allocation of the L&T sheet. The third line contains
the following information
Load and Trim Sheet
• Flight: Flight number
• Date: Calendar day of the current month,
without indication of the month(!)
• Registration: Aircraft registration
• Version: This box can be used to specify the
number of seats per class (F, C or M)
according to a special key
• Crew: The number of crewmembers is given here.
• The value in front of the dash represents the cockpit crew (standard value would be 2,
but can also be 3), behind the dash the number of cabin attendants is given (standard
value would be 4)
Load and Trim Sheet
• Date: The complete date.
• The boxes 1 to 9 will be explained next.
Load and Trim Sheet
• The respective Dry Operating Mass (DOM) is given, it
is entered in box 1.
• The Maximum Zero Fuel Mass is entered in box 2a.
• The Take-Off Fuel is entered in box 2 as well as box 3.
• The Regulated TOM (RTOM) is entered in box 3a and
the Regulated LAM (RLAM) in box 3b.
• The trip fuel is entered in box 4.
Load and Trim Sheet
Trim Sheet for Large Aeroplanes
• The right part B of the MRJTI L&T sheet is known as
the trim sheet, or balance sheet.
• It can be used to graphically determine and display
the CG position for all relevant loading states.
Load and Trim Sheet
Load and Trim Sheet
Last Minute Changes
• "Last Minute Changes" are changes to the loading that
only occur immediately before departure (e.g. an
additional passenger).
• Certain regulations are determined depending on the flight
operation that allow for the alteration of an already
existing mass and balance documentation instantly, to
provide a simplified proof that all parameters are still
within limits.
 Lesson 3

Repositioning of CG
Repositioning of CG
Repositioning of CG by Shifting the Load
• If during pre-flight preparation it is determined that the CG
is in unfavorable position, it is necessary to shift loads.
• E.g., if the CG is too far forward, a mass L (load) must be
repositioned from CPT1 to CPT4 to bring the CG within
limits.
• If the desired result was not accomplished still, the passenger
seating would also must be considered. However, this is not
the case.
Repositioning of CG
Repositioning of CG
• When transferring a load L from CPT1 (A) to CPT4
(B) the total mass of the aircraft remains unchanged;
only the position of the CG changes by the distance s.
Repositioning of CG
Repositioning of CG by Additional Load or Ballast
• In some situations (e.g., ferry flights) an aircraft
will be flown without any loading.
• If during pre-flight preparation it is discovered
that the CG is outside of the specified limits it is
necessary to bring the CG into the permissible
range by loading additional “ballast”.
Repositioning of CG
• If, for example, the CG of an unloaded aeroplane
(at DOM) is too far aft, a mass L (load) must be
loaded into the forward cargo compartment
(CPT1) as ballast.
Repositioning of CG
Repositioning of CG
• The new CG (CG new) is taken as the reference point
and the following moment equation is set up:

• In the ballast formula, the distance d is always

the distance of “CG new” from the freight
compartment where the ballast is to be loaded.
Repositioning of CG
• The formula looks like this when converted to
give L:
Exercise 4.4
• Exercise on determination of CG position by all the
methods discussed
• Exercise on Load and Trim Sheet
• Exercise on repositioning of CG
Module review
• Determination of CG using arithmetic method
• Determination of CG using graphic method
• Determination of CG using index method
• Load and trim sheet
• Repositioning of CG by shifting the load
• Repositioning of CG by additional load or ballast
Mastery Test MT4.1
• Mastery test on Determination of CG Position
Any Questions?

Thank You!