B777F WBS???
 

Hi All,

Just out of aviation and technical curiosity (never been in cargo biz): I've learned that the 777F is equipped with a Crane "real time" weight and balance system named "AirWeights". Anybody willing to post a PDF manual on it? Just to learn how it works. It would be a nice reading during my winter free time.
Anyway do you rely on it in routine operations? Does the 777F have some kind of "Loadmaster Manual" or similar publication?
I've tried the net but no joy, of course.
Appreciate your help,

b

Must be a customer option , havent seen it yet.

Don't know about the 777F however -400F and -8F certainly have a W & B computer onboard and, yes, we rely on it to the extent that if it is 'out' compared to the load sheet there are procedures to follow to ensure an error hasn't been made.
MEL allows you to go without it but beware! In my experience, (30 plus years although some of the early versions on other types were not the most reliable) every time it has been in error on the 400 or -8 there usually was an error! Many F/Os I fly with comment to me "Oh, but that error is common, CN so and so the other day just dismissed it and we flew OK". That is only a testament to the certification. I've seen many a Ground Engineer try and sign it off as unserviceable for no other reason than it was telling him something he didn't want to know. Subsequent checking of the load usually proves that the computer was telling the truth and there was a problem with the loading.

Been years since 777F tech school but it does and the system uses a sensor (s) in the MLG trunnion. The rest I forgot...

Nothing new boys and girls the old merch ex boac had it 40 years ago operated by hunting cargo it worked very well back then before my time but only restating what I've been told by older freight dogs . Happy new year to all fly safe for next year .

Thanks for your replies. In a short video I saw a touchscreen display, I think near the main cargo door manipulated by the loadmaster during loading. Most probably the WBS input device. That's what I wanted to know more about...

Cheers,

b

The touchscreen device aft of the main cargo door is for troubleshooting the loading system if necessary. It has nothing to do with weight & balance.

I'm not sure it is an option on the 77F, certainly wasn't installed on the ones I worked on.

The nose-gear sensor a previous poster referred to is, to my knowledge, only there to provide a tipping alarm. Once it sets off it will, besides giving an aural warning, disable the CLS on the main-deck.

However, I think it needs to be established that even the system found on the 747 is not a WBS. It's 'only' there to make a cross-check with against the load-sheet, albeit it is a very valuable tool.