Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
But the designer will have determined the C of G envelope within which the airlines can configure the cabin...
So, was the envelope specified incorrectly? Or did the 'airline' mis-configure the cabin. 'Airline' because (on this side of the pond) it's actually Boeing that builds the cabin per the customer's requests. The original envelope is checked as a part of the type certification using analysis and perhaps a few flight tests with test ballast. If it flies OK, the design is signed off. Then the customer comes along and requests a certain seating and cargo configuration. The design for that particular aircraft will again have to be analyzed and signed off for it's airworthiness certificate to be issued.
So, where did the process break down? A poor envelope specification up front? Or marketing caving in to a customer to cram in just one more row of seats? The article says Lufthansa is affected rather than all customers. So I suspect it's the latter.