Any computer weight and balance programs for GA?
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Any computer weight and balance programs for GA?
Hey all,
I'm getting more and more lazy. Doing a bunch of cross country trips this month and was wondering if anybody knew of any computer programs that could do the job of a take off chart? Ie you put in all the paramaters and it tells you TODR ect....
Somebody get cracking on that
I'm getting more and more lazy. Doing a bunch of cross country trips this month and was wondering if anybody knew of any computer programs that could do the job of a take off chart? Ie you put in all the paramaters and it tells you TODR ect....
Somebody get cracking on that
Weight and balance programs are quite easy to construct in excel.
Takeoff distance charts can me more difficult as they are not always linear.
Takeoff distance charts can me more difficult as they are not always linear.
If I were you Bumpy, I'd do it myself by hand every time. The reason is that it becomes part of your drill - a set sequence of getting brain organised for flying safely. It seems to work that way for me anyway, and at least I've located the POH and might idly flick through some other numbers at the same time.
My New Years Aviational resolution was to start being a bit more of a paranoid after I once caught myself not draining tanks after juicing up, and guess what? I'm right on that experience level that we have been warned is where overconfidence kicks in.
Even if I'm just going in the circuit, I now mentally do a rough weight and balance and fuel duration calculation, read the checklist instead of just remembering it and I've started doing the "fuel remaining" check on return as well. And for cross country I do the lot in an old exercise book.
Some formalism and routine seems to help. I don't want shortcuts, but that's my personal opinion.
My New Years Aviational resolution was to start being a bit more of a paranoid after I once caught myself not draining tanks after juicing up, and guess what? I'm right on that experience level that we have been warned is where overconfidence kicks in.
Even if I'm just going in the circuit, I now mentally do a rough weight and balance and fuel duration calculation, read the checklist instead of just remembering it and I've started doing the "fuel remaining" check on return as well. And for cross country I do the lot in an old exercise book.
Some formalism and routine seems to help. I don't want shortcuts, but that's my personal opinion.
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I have drawn up a exel sheet which can easily be adapted (by me, but not by you) to any aircraft type for W & B. Draws a pretty graph with the effect of all the various load stations and where you can see if CofG is going to get embarassing with fuel burn off.
Even if I'm just going in the circuit, I now mentally do a rough weight and balance
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What, with one person on board a PA28 even with full fuel???? What's the point?
It's all good, until you knock a wheel off, no weight and balance = in breach of air nav rules and regs = no insurance pay out = etc etc etc
Maybe the Dr can comment
I have a very good W&B calculator for the FTDK that is customised for my aeroplane. Is done by a mob in the US.
It calculates W&B for TO, Zero fuel, and landing, and illustrates same graphically.
Haven't got the details here cause its on the Motion Computing LS800 tablet computer that I use in the aeroplane. Will get the details and post here.
I think it cost me about US$40 - and they will do them for most aeroplanes.
Great bit of gear! I found the W&B calculator in the POH to be quite difficult and time consuming to use - which is unfortunate given how easily the V35B can be loaded out the back of the envelope.
Dr
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 18th Feb 2008 at 04:14.
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DW:
Im not sure that's the case. I got a ramp check once i had me and my wife in the plane and full fuel. I explained that i had 4 standard loading charts for my aircraft with some standard weight limits and it was loaded within limits of one of my standard charts. The Weight Chart i used in that case were just two people (50kg & 75kg) and baggage not exceeding 15kg loaded front to back with full fuel. I Guess it helped that the last 250 hours in my logbook was in that aircraft.
The CASA guy seemed happy with that.
But i have done the numbers with up to 85kg X 2 Full Fuel and 5kg baggage still ok.
If you have to have the chart on board then the computer will be useless i would suggest unless the result was printed out.
Im not sure that's the case. I got a ramp check once i had me and my wife in the plane and full fuel. I explained that i had 4 standard loading charts for my aircraft with some standard weight limits and it was loaded within limits of one of my standard charts. The Weight Chart i used in that case were just two people (50kg & 75kg) and baggage not exceeding 15kg loaded front to back with full fuel. I Guess it helped that the last 250 hours in my logbook was in that aircraft.
The CASA guy seemed happy with that.
But i have done the numbers with up to 85kg X 2 Full Fuel and 5kg baggage still ok.
If you have to have the chart on board then the computer will be useless i would suggest unless the result was printed out.
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Hi Matt-YSBK, you may not have had a printed copy of the weight and balance, but oint is, you were able to show the guy that you had done a weight and balance, calculation, be it a template or a once off.
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Champagnes FP2000/3000 does it with very little data input required, very easy.
As a computer illiterate dumb ass, if i was was able to work it out, anyone can.
I rest on your face
.
As a computer illiterate dumb ass, if i was was able to work it out, anyone can.
I rest on your face
.
We used flight star for windows for W&B.
You can modify the Basic wt and Cg position to suit the actual aircraft. Also has a good flt pln component. As for the Take off charts we had to do it ourselves the old fashioned way.
You can modify the Basic wt and Cg position to suit the actual aircraft. Also has a good flt pln component. As for the Take off charts we had to do it ourselves the old fashioned way.
I have used an Excel spreadsheet for ages. Got the original template from someone in the US. I have modified it a fair bit to suit my situation.
I have found it handy when calculating effects of role equipment etc.
It is all fairly easy in most 100 series Cessna type, as everything is measured from the firewall(Datum).
I have a 2 laminated load and envelope sheets, showing max load with Pax and Baggage, and max load in bait config.
In the 185, It is nearly impossible to get close to MTOW or out the back of the CoG range, with Pax and bags situation.
I have found it handy when calculating effects of role equipment etc.
It is all fairly easy in most 100 series Cessna type, as everything is measured from the firewall(Datum).
I have a 2 laminated load and envelope sheets, showing max load with Pax and Baggage, and max load in bait config.
In the 185, It is nearly impossible to get close to MTOW or out the back of the CoG range, with Pax and bags situation.
Does CASA no longer require a weight and balance system for an aircraft to be approved ?
Would have made my chief pilot stint a lot better if that was the case, but we went through hell trying to get a workable weight and balance system up to CASA's requirements. And no, the manufacturers system was not CASA approved since it was never submitted to them for approval.
Would have made my chief pilot stint a lot better if that was the case, but we went through hell trying to get a workable weight and balance system up to CASA's requirements. And no, the manufacturers system was not CASA approved since it was never submitted to them for approval.
