Published by Aileron | 2018

ATPL MASS AND BALANCE

FORMULA WORKBOOK
FREE DOWNLOAD

ATPL
MATERIALS

AILERON
 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
INDEX

CONVERSIONS............................................1

CARGO LOADING......................................2

Mass
MOMENTS.....................................................3

CENTRE OF GRAVITY..............................4

SHIFTING THE CENTRE OF

GRAVITY.........................................................5

EFFECT OF ADDING/SUBTRACTING
MASS ON CENTRE OF GRAVITY.......6

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 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
CONVERSIONS

DISTANCE
1 Metre = 3.28 Feet
1 Ft = 12 Inches

Mass Volume

MASS
1 KG = 2.205 lbs
Weight = Mass x 9.81

VOLUME
1 Imp Gallon = 4.55 Litres
1 US Gallon = 3.79 Litres
1 Imp Gallon = 1 US Gal x 1.2 

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 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
CARGO LOADING

RUNNING/LINEAR LOAD
Running Load = Mass ÷ Length

Definition: The mass of an object per unit

Mass of length.

AREA LOAD
Area Load = Mass ÷ Area

Definition: The mass of an object per unit

of area.

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 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
MOMENTS

MOMENT FORMULA
Moment = Force x Distance

Definition: A moment is the tendency of

a force to rotate an object around its axis.
It is dependent upon the size of the force
applied and the distance of that force
from the axis of rotation. 

NOTES

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 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
CENTRE OF GRAVITY

FINDING CENTRE OF GRAVITY

C of G position = Moment ÷ Mass

NB: The C of G position is measured from

the Datum. The Datum is a point from
which all masses are referenced.  

FINDING % CG MAC
% CG MAC =    C  of  G  position-LeMAC
   MAC         position
    Length           x100 

NB: MAC = Mean Aerodynamic Chord,

LeMAC = Leading Edge of the MAC

All distances are measured from the

Datum.

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 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
SHIFTING THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY

RATIO METHOD
Ratio Method:  m
M
=
d
D
OR
M
m
=
D
d

m = Mass to be shifted
M = Total Aircraft Mass
d = Distance CG Moves
D = Distance Mass is Shifted 

NOTES

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 MASS AND BALANCE FORMULAE
EFFECT OF ADDING/SUBTRACTING
MASS ON CENTRE OF GRAVITY

ADDING/SUBTRACTING MASS
Ratio Method:  m
MN
=
d
D CGO to mass position
OR
m
MO
=
d
D CGN to mass position

NB: Which formula you use will depend

on the information given to you in the
question.

m = Mass added or subtracted

M N = Aircraft mass after object
added/subtracted
M O = Aircraft mass before object
added/subtracted
d = Distance CG moves

DCGO to mass position = Distance

between where mass is
added/subtracted and the original CG
position.

DCGN to mass position = Distance

between where mass is
added/subtracted and the new CG
position.

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