How do pilots who fly any type of commerial plane make sure the plane is below the maximum gross weight?

Question

Do they even check?

Answer 1

The aircraft operator (airline) calculates the weight of the aircraft based on the passenger manifest and cargo load, plus fuel.  The captain checks the figures provided by the operator and approves them.  He doesn't really have a way of actually weighing the aircraft himself, however, so to a large extent he has to trust the numbers he is given.

Answer 2

We pilots sure do complicate things when answering questions here. Makes you think we can do things that you can't huh? Take the empty weight of the airplane. Add the weight of everything that you load into the airplane. That's now the ramp weight of the airplane. If it's less than or equal to the maximum allowable, have a nice flight. If not, unload things until it is.

In House, just where would that door be for the attendant to go down and redistribute baggage or cargo that has shifted.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa Yer killin' me.

Answer 3

Now days we use the FMS. Basic operating weight minus fuel is in the FMS this usually counts for the pilots and flight attendents and galley supplies etc. 1/ You add the number of Passengers into the box (FMS) it adds the weight 2/ then once the fuel is uploaded the box totals the weight of the fuel. 3/ then the box shows your actual weight therfore pilots can make sure the Aircraft is under gross take off weight. Normally you figure this out before you upload fuel etc to determine the performance which takes into account temp/altitude/runway avail / weather and any aircraft equip inop etc. Hope this helps

Answer 4

on a small GA plane,the pilot usually does the weight and balance, but after a while they forget about it,because of having common loads and uneventful flights. However, on a commercial operation, I think the flight dispatcher calculates all this ,based on information given to him by the airline (pax#, bags,fuel, cargo,and their locations). This information is computed, and given to the flight crew.

Answer 5

Weights and balances checks in the cockpit with their instruments. If not loaded correctly they will call back the baggage loaders and transfer fuel loads to ensure the aircraft stays in balance throughout the flight. For example, sometimes baggage shifts so they can send an attendant down to move stuff back where it goes. When they use fuel from the fuel cells they can transfer small quantities of fuel from one cell into another to ensure the aircraft fuel is distributed equally. They will check their instruments periodically and if out of balance an alarm will sound or a light will blink or possibly the aircraft will redistribute the fuel on it's own to ensure the aircraft stays in balance.

Answer 6

The airline Ops dept.usually sends this data to the FMS that includes passengers,fuel etc. and the pilot gets a print out when he/she cks in and goes over it.A head count is usually done to make sure.The FMC on newer planes tells the pilot where to set power and flaps etc for takeoff.There is also cargo too.

Answer 7

For cargo flights, they actually put all the freight on a scale, and weigh it, and then calcuate a load plan to positon the weight in the aircraft to be below MTOW, and within CG.

Answer 8

Oh yeah.  Pilots do a weight and balance check before each flight.  Some are automated, and some use a form with all the weights and a flight envelope.  Usually, the maximum takeoff weight is determined by the runway length and temperature that day.  Sometimes they have to remove passengers or even fuel to make the proper weight.  Hope that helps you a bit.