CAT.POL.MAB.105 Mass and balance data and documentation

(a)  The operator shall establish mass and balance data and produce mass and balance documentation prior to each flight specifying the load and its distribution. The mass and balance documentation shall enable the commander to determine that the load and its distribution is such that the mass and balance limits of the aircraft are not exceeded. The mass and balance documentation shall contain the following information:

(1)  Aircraft registration and type;

(2)  Flight identification, number and date;

(3)  Name of the commander;

(4)  Name of the person who prepared the document;

(5)  Dry operating mass and the corresponding CG of the aircraft:

(i)  for performance class B aeroplanes and for helicopters the CG position may not need to be on the mass and balance documentation if, for example, the load distribution is in accordance with a pre-calculated balance table or if it can be shown that for the planned operations a correct balance can be ensured, whatever the real load is;

(6)  Mass of the fuel at take-off and the mass of trip fuel;

(7)  Mass of consumables other than fuel, if applicable;

(8)  Load components including passengers, baggage, freight and ballast;

(9)  Take-off mass, landing mass and zero fuel mass;

(10)  Applicable aircraft CG positions; and

(11)  The limiting mass and CG values.

 The information above shall be available in flight planning documents or mass and balance systems. Some of this information may be contained in other documents readily available for use.

(b)  Where mass and balance data and documentation is generated by a computerised mass and balance system, the operator shall:

(1)  verify the integrity of the output data to ensure that the data are within AFM limitations; and

(2)  specify the instructions and procedures for its use in its operations manual.

(c)  The person supervising the loading of the aircraft shall confirm by hand signature or equivalent that the load and its distribution are in accordance with the mass and balance documentation given to the commander. The commander shall indicate his/her acceptance by hand signature or equivalent.

(d)  The operator shall specify procedures for last minute changes to the load to ensure that:

(1)  any last minute change after the completion of the mass and balance documentation is brought to the attention of the commander and entered in the flight planning documents containing the mass and balance documentation;

(2)  the maximum last minute change allowed in passenger numbers or hold load is specified; and

(3)  new mass and balance documentation is prepared if this maximum number is exceeded.