This is not a news item, but anyone who is involved with loadsheets or ops please help!
(Sorry! Title should read Loadsheet Overload)
Take, for example a 757 on a charter flight, carrying 233 pax, and each pax has a suitcase. Some carriers checkin their bags using pieces only (ie number of bags) and use notional weights; As opposed to Pieces and Weight carriers who weigh each bag so an exact load can be obtained. The pieces only carriers are using 13kgs per bag. They are also using standard weights for pax, 88kg for a male, 70 female, 35 child, and anywhere from 0 to 6 for an infant. When the flight closes, and the loadsheet is produced, you have an overload of 30kg. It is decided that you will up your taxi burn from 250 to 280 kgs, because you do not want to depart with an overload, which should be the choice everyone makes.
The question is, How many people on a charter flight do you know whose suitcase weighs 13kgs? At 233 bags each weighing about 20 kg infact, total baggage weight is close to 4.5 - 5 tonnes, whereas using pieces only checkin and notional weights, the loadsheet shows baggage weight is 3 tonnes! The pax weights are closer to the norm for the majority of people, but the difference in baggage weight can be upto double what is shown on the loadsheet.
So why is it that this underload of zero is so critical, and that groundcrews strive to keep everything above board, when really there is another two tonnes of baggage onboard which is not even reflected in the loading? Is this accounted for because I have asked many Despatchers, and nobody knows!
Seeing as though pieces and weight carriers get an exact representation of the load they are carrying, why are all airlines not using this method? Where did 13kgs come from?
In addition, I would be interested to hear from anyone at Air 2000, or JMC who have "Standard Loadings". The trim figure from these loadings on a charter flight tends to be a long way from the ideal trim figure for efficiency, so what is the reason for having these bizzare loadings?
On a 757 with a full passenger load, Hold 3 and hold 4 full with the overspill in Hold 2, it is possible to get the most efficient trim. So why load half and half in 2 and three, or one third and two thirds? What is the logic for this? Obviously there must be answers to these questions, and they are not meant to be attacking in any way at all, but some answers would be appreciated.
The best results always seem to come from Pieces and Weight carriers who allow despatch to aim for the ideal trim.
Anyone any ideas?
Cheers, NORDIC
[This message has been edited by NORDIC (edited 10 January 2001).]