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This handbook FAA-H-8083-1B is current in 2023.
Weight and balance is an important aspect to the safety of flight. An
overweight aircraft, or one whose center of gravity is outside the
allowable limits, is inefficient and dangerous to fly. The
responsibility for proper weight and balance control begins with the
engineers and designers, and extends to the pilot and mechanic who flies
and maintains the aircraft. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
publication addresses this safety-crucial topic and in studying this
handbook, pilots and aviation mechanics will gain the necessary
knowledge on the subject of aircraft weight and balance, in preparation
for the FAA Knowledge Exam as well as safe flight and maintenance
operations.
Basic aircraft weight and balance control principles and procedures for
the preparation, and the actual weighing of an aircraft start the
discussion, including the methods of determining the location of the
empty weight center of gravity. Loading computations with loading graphs
and tables of weight and moment indexes follow, including instructions
on determining the weight and center of gravity changes caused by
repairs and alterations or removal and installation of equipment.
Chapters are dedicated to light-sport aircraft, single-engine aircraft,
multi-engine aircraft, and commuter and large aircraft, as well as
helicopter weight and balance control and determining lateral CG. Also
included are examples of solving weight and balance problems using a
hand-held electronic calculator, E6-B flight computer, and a dedicated
electronic flight computer.
Illustrated throughout with detailed, full-color drawings, and includes
a glossary and index.
