lightweight over heavyweight?

[c173]

hi guys,

having an argument with some mates- would GA operators on light singles and twins (c200 barons etc) take a pilot that is 60kg over someone that is say 90kg?

the difference can mean an extra passenger or cargo in many cases

[wishiwasupthere]

I was 60kg when I was about 12!!

[Di_Vosh]

Certain GA operators would, definitely.

When I was looking for SE work I was told by one operator (nearly all of his operations were scenics in C200 series and airvans) that at 90kg I was too heavy. He preferred pilots around the 60-65kg mark.

DIVOSH!

[VH-XXX]

An operator that I know charges $2.50 per kg for their freight run over a fixed distance.

90-60=30*2.50*150 + return trips a year = $22,500 in lost revenue for a fat pilot :oh:

There are suggestions that 1kg a year on an airliner can cost in the 10's of thousands hence why flight crew are expected to be within a certain weight. That and the fact that if you're a fattie you'll struggle to fit down the aisle. Like it or not, thinner people may have more success in renewing their medicals too particularly if your DAME is a BMI Nazi.

[b_sta]

60kg? Are they hiring jockeys or pilots :hmm:

[Jack Ranga]

I wouldn't hire a fat bastard (if there was a fat bastard & a skinny bastard with equal qualifications)

When I was doing a bit of night freight we would go out full every night. There was a chick pilot on the books and she could load an extra 52kgs above me. Makes sense to hire skinny bastards doesn't it?

[Bounceferret]

There is a balance,
BMI means squat without actually viewing the individual.
High BMI due to cheeseburgers and beer? fair enough

[c173]

i'm not talking overweight/obese i'm just talking regular tall 80-90kg guys....
so there is an advantage being lighter? that's what i'm getting at

[Runaway Gun]

Can a skinny guy lift the required freight/baggage/sickpax? ;)

[Fondair]

I'm 90kg's but tall.

This thread has got me worried :(

[AerobaticArcher]

I would hire a pilot who is 90-95 kg and could look after customers over a pilot who is 60-65 kg, and has the personality of a brick anyday!

[VH-XXX]

Yeah Fondair, you're gonna have to shed some pounds if you wanna score that airline gig you have been dreaming about. :\

[Omega471]

I know a girl that has been hired for her weight, approx 45kgs. She is now on a PA34 because the operator is able to take IFR fuel reserves. She has also been given a PA31 endo.

Half her luck, or is that half my weight: Both :bored:

[jas24zzk]

I would hire a pilot who is 90-95 kg and could look after customers over a pilot who is 60-65 kg, and has the personality of a brick anyday!

Crikey,
I'm glad after 20 years, I have finally added 3kg.
So where does that put my personality according to your learned observations?

:confused:

[Plow King]

So where does that put my personality according to your learned observations?

Jas, I don't think AA was implying all lightweight pilots are dull, but he values personality over physique.

[Fondair]

My dream job isnt actually airlines, its doing joyflights in tigermoths.

[CHAIRMAN]

Only limitation in a Tiger is that you can squeeze between the fuse frames getting in - and hoist a leg over the side. 90kg should be no problem. Ask Chuckles, he comes close:ok:

[AerobaticArcher]

Jas, I don't think AA was implying all lightweight pilots are dull, but he values personality over physique.


Spot on Plow King.

[jas24zzk]

How boring, I was hoping for a new grading system :E:E:E:E:E:E:E

Was looking in the mirror this morning, not quite sure I like where those 3kg's were added.. :ugh:

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Back on topic

Runaway Gun
Can a skinny guy lift the required freight/baggage/sickpax?

Well I can lift my mother...she is 120+, is that enough?
In reality, you are not going to be asked to solo lift anything that heavy, lest worksafe get involved.
I'm not sure about todays reg, but for guys the max solo lift allowance used to be 45kg, and I can only ever see them grading that downwards in any review of the law.

Jas

[Di_Vosh]

In reality, you are not going to be asked to solo lift anything that heavy, lest worksafe get involved.

Sure about that? During my nightfreight time I'd regularly shift up to 750kg on and off a PA31 by myself. If I did two return trips, 2-3 tonnes over the night was common.

DIVOSH!

[VH-XXX]

What's the max Qantas bag weight these days, 32kg due OH&S with a warning sticker at 23 kg's?

40 for Jestar now but I assume over 2 bags.

[The Green Goblin]

Most companies allow 90kg for a pilot which becomes the BEW of the aircraft. Payload is always calculated and quoted on that.

At the gator the little guys always got flogged on bungles. With them at the helm you could use the 8th seat in a van or 7th in th 207.

[glekichi]

What a load of rubbish. At 110+Kg I've been through instructing, piston charter, to turbines without a worry in the world.
If the operator is more worried about stuffing an extra 20-30kg in the aeroplane than finding the right pilot to fly it, then go find another operator.

[Fondair]

Well said.

[Towering Q]

In a former life, when involved with hiring staff, we took on a guy after a phone interview. He came highly recommended from former staff, normally a good sign.

We got quite a shock when he arrived, 6ft 5 and 120 something kilos!

There were some jobs he couldn't be sent out on, not many, but he made up for it in work ethic and reliability. :ok:

[dhavillandpilot]

I wouldn't say 80 to 90kgs is a deal breaker for employment as this is the average for most Australian Males.

However we used to employ a pilot who weighed in at 115kgs. This meant that we leagally couldn't do some of the flying with him as PIC. This individual could best be described as obese.

It comes down to why should an employer's business be made to suffer due to employing a staff member who is unable to do the work required.

Apart of health implication, this individual probably cost our company over a 12 month period some $80,000 in lost revenue through additional flying/landings due to weight carrying restrictions.

As a post script I will say that we could not fault his flying ability - we just couldn't afford him at his weight level.

[Al Fentanyl]

Wasn't there an incident with a lightweight pilot who didn't have the upper body strength to manage an incorrectly configured PA31 that pitched up on takeoff and had to get the front seat pax to help push it down?

[Howard Hughes]

90kg? That would be about normal these days wouldn't it? :ok:

Unfortunately my Doctor keeps telling me "when you're only 5'6" ya need to be concerned". :{

[SpyderPig]

At 6'2" and 93kg I've thought about this too. I hope this isnt going to be a problem when I get out there job hunting next year:(

[CoodaShooda]

There should be a law against sizeism. :E

Recently learned that the school I hire Jabirus from is using me to illustrate to prospective students how much space there is in a Jab cockpit.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with being 6'3" and 125 kg. :ok:

[porch monkey]

Hey Divosh, did you work for me once?:eek:

[Jack Ranga]

Porch..........I did ;) (well, almost! You'd left)

And so did the skinny chick that could carry more freight than the rest of us :D

[rutan around]

Bounceferrit
Now I'm worried.If you add Mrs Mac's pies to cheeseburgers and beer you've just listed my entire away from home menu. My solution to the problem was to buy a bigger aircraft. RA

[Lancair70]

Ive seen 100kg pilots knocked back in Skydiving ops, too much extra weight, but that doesnt neccesarily mean the skinny guy gets the job either, he/she still needs to be able to fly. Ive seen (Im sure we all have) new CPL's come apply for a job, get a start only to last a few loads because their basic flying is crap.

[RWD5]

i'm 6ft 3 and 89kg, i was told that my weight would be a problem by one operator who prefers pilots 75kg and under (makes sense as it can mean the difference between carrying an extra paying pax on a scenic flight in a 210 and such). another mainly scenic operator has mentioned a 90kg weight limit for their pilots,however having said that most operators i have dealt with do not place low body weight high on their list of requirements.

[Atlas Shrugged]

Is Ray Clamback still around??

[b_sta]

Certainly is, at Clamback & Hennessy @ BK... why, what are you getting at :}

[Icarus2001]

There are suggestions that 1kg a year on an airliner can cost in the 10's of thousands hence why flight crew are expected to be within a certain weight.

Where do you drag that nonsense from?

[apache]

anything more than 6 seats, and we are ALL the same weight :)

[Avgas172]

What a load of rubbish. At 110+Kg I've been through instructing, piston charter, to turbines without a worry in the world.
If the operator is more worried about stuffing an extra 20-30kg in the aeroplane than finding the right pilot to fly it, then go find another operator.

LOL ... glad I don't have to share a 152 or J160 with you, 110 + 100kg + full fuel = flat round black things that keep the wheels of the gravel. :E