ASA weight and balance
12-21-2007, 10:53 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: 757/767
Posts: 890
12-21-2007, 11:32 AM
#13
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Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Dreamniner
Posts: 352
QX gives its captains a palm device, which contains a weight and balance program. It allows you to select which aircraft you are in, and has the BOW for each aircraft already programmed in. The captain can input passengers, bags, and cargo to see if it will work. It will flag if the aircraft is over MTOW, MLW, MZFW, exceeding the weight limit for the cargo area, or is outside of the CG envelope. It's very easy to go back and change the numbers of passengers, distribution of passengers, number of bags, cargo weight, etc... to find a combination that will work.
Last edited by Dash8Pilot; 12-21-2007 at 11:33 AM. Reason: grammar
12-21-2007, 11:35 AM
#14
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Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: It's still a Guppy, just a bit longer.
Posts: 727
I've never had a problem with them, and then again, I treat them like fellow employees.
You think every one of the pilot applicants is a genius?
12-21-2007, 12:31 PM
#15
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Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 7ER B...whatever that means.
Posts: 3,982
Pencil - $0.25
Pad of paper - $0.99
Pocket calculator - $4.99
30 mins of watching the flight crew pull their hair out - Priceless
It called ACARS boys and girls. Get it, use it, love it
Pad of paper - $0.99
Pocket calculator - $4.99
30 mins of watching the flight crew pull their hair out - Priceless
It called ACARS boys and girls. Get it, use it, love it
12-21-2007, 01:35 PM
#18
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Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Q400 survivor
Posts: 537
or atis
or printouts...
12-21-2007, 01:41 PM
#19
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
Posts: 156
I agree. I find it very disrespectful when us pilots talk down on rampers as if we are better than them. Yes I've had problems here and there with a few, but most are good people trying to make a living and support their family while working their a$$ off. Give them a break.
12-21-2007, 02:20 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: B744/8 CA at Atlas
Posts: 83
Im a new FO and I ran into an issue the other day that ended up costing an hour delay. I'm pretty sure this is a big issue as far as ASA's on time performance.
We often get hit up with the "how many people can we take" line, and that is a fairly easy calculation that doesnt result in aircraft balance issues because bags go before pax. This particular flight, however, was downgraded from a 700 to 200 (no clue why), so it was important to delta that that pax go before the bags. That is an easy calculation as well, but it will most often result in balance issues because there is no junk in the trunk. You can't throw balast in the back becasue you are already at max weight, so you end up kicking more people off the plane and adding bags to balance things out.
Im not sure why, but no body on the ramp seems to understand the whole balance concept either.
I guess my question would be, has anyone developed software or a spread sheet that allows you to input all these variables and come out with a quick number to tell the agent that will result in an under max, balanced condition?
We often get hit up with the "how many people can we take" line, and that is a fairly easy calculation that doesnt result in aircraft balance issues because bags go before pax. This particular flight, however, was downgraded from a 700 to 200 (no clue why), so it was important to delta that that pax go before the bags. That is an easy calculation as well, but it will most often result in balance issues because there is no junk in the trunk. You can't throw balast in the back becasue you are already at max weight, so you end up kicking more people off the plane and adding bags to balance things out.
Im not sure why, but no body on the ramp seems to understand the whole balance concept either.
I guess my question would be, has anyone developed software or a spread sheet that allows you to input all these variables and come out with a quick number to tell the agent that will result in an under max, balanced condition?
I am really surprised that your Cap. didn't see you were struggling and do it for you.
In the case you mentioned it is fairly straightforward to do the work on the whizzwheel. Just start backing out passengers from the front and adding the same weight into the cargo until you get within limits. You should be able to move one pax at a time in about 10 secs on the wheel. You might want to practice that before it comes up again.
I was at ASA for 7 years so I know what a pain it can be when they start asking you to juggle those numbers!
