aeromike49

I was riding as a passenger on one of the merged airlines - the aircraft pushed out of the gate for departure and soon after the pushback stopped and I assume the Captain got on the PA and said that they had to wait for their numbers? Am I to assume that this meant weight and balance or take off data? Just curious about this as the international air carrier I worked for (25 years) we always did our own weight and balance and take off and landing data. This awaiting numbers seem to be much less efficient especially when the aircraft is heavily loaded and it would be desirable to carry as much weight (cargo, and/or passengers) as possible?

ackattacker

Most major airlines the weight and balance is handled by a dedicated staff and transmitted electronically to the crew.

But even if the crew could do it themselves, they would need to know the final numbers including the distribution of passengers (typically by zone) and the total weights of cargo and bags and where they are located.

In the interest of efficiency, frequently the aircraft is pushed from the gate before either the ramp handlers have inputted the final bag numbers or the gate agent has closed out the flight, sending the final passenger manifest to load planning. This allows the aircraft to be pushed as soon as possible after the doors are closed.

If there is a delay in the process you end up sitting there "waiting for numbers".

If load planning knows that the flight is going to be weight or c.g. critical, i.e. they're trying to get as much cargo on as possible, they will have the aircraft wait at the gate until the final numbers are in. Otherwise, pushing back first and getting underway towards the runway is typically more efficient.

aeromike49

I understand about allowing load planners or dispatch figure the numbers. Seems rather backwards to me since the pilots and loaders were right there and you could look out the window to see what was going on?

aeromike49

I guess it really depends on the type of operation and where it is located as there are many places in the world that communication thousands of miles away is not that reliable.

EMAW

We submit our load through ACARS and the computer calculates our w&b and our performance numbers and sends it back to us. Normally this happens before pushback, but if we have a runway change to an unplanned one, then we have to resubmit and wait for the numbers to come back. If the ACARS is MELed, we have to call dispatch and fill out a manual form.

aviatorhi

aeromike,

The type of operations I work for and you worked for are dinosaurs and things of the past. These days at "real" airlines pilots just sit there and do as they're told.

Mrtoy2

The new systems sometimes utilize tablets with W/B and Perf apps on them. Or use the ACARS system to "ping" a server with information regarding your flight. It then sends the perf information back automatically based on the info you provided (pax and bags count etc.).