The question of overweight flights is an interesting one.
The standard weights for adults are currently: 88kgs for a man and 70kg for a woman (scheduled, not charter flights or all adult, I know).
That's just under 14 stone for a man and 11 stone for a woman. That is their clothed weight - so take off an allowance for clothes and personal possessions in pockets and the actual body weights are in the order of 13 stone for a man and 10 stone for a woman.
Next time you go on a flight see how many people fit that weight range?
More importantly, how many are over that weight?
More importantly still, how many are there who weigh less than that weight to compensate for those who are heavier?
I've see many people on board who exceed 13 stone/10 stone, but not many who weigh 6 stone to compensate for those who are 20 stone/14 stone!!!
I'm sure many flights are overweight and illegal but it will never be proven as only 'standard weights' are used in weight & balance and performance calculations.
Furthermore, try telling a regulating body to increase the 'standard weights' and then inform the airlines that seats will have to be removed or baggage/fuel calculations revised to accommodate this increase in weight!
It'll never happen - airlines don't want to know things like that - they're more interested in 'cramming them in' and playing lip service to environmental issues.
Last edited by FlyingOfficerKite; 2nd October 2012 at 11:49.