Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook

The Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook is the official U.S. government guidebook for pilots, flight crews, and airplane mechanics. Beginning with the basic principles of aircraft weight and balance control, this manual goes on to cover in exacting detail the procedures for weighing aircraft. It also offers a thorough discussion of the methods used to determine the location of an aircraft’s empty weight and center of gravity (CG), including information for an A&P mechanic to determine weight changes caused by repairs or alterations. With instructions for conducting adverse-loaded CG checks and for determining the amount and location of ballast needed to bring CG within allowable limits, the Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook is essential for anyone who wishes to safely weigh and fly aircraft of all kinds.

The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. It regulates and oversees the aviation industry, pilot licensing, and airspace with the goal of providing “the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.”