Chapter 4 INTRODUCTION ‘When an aeroplane has been manufactured and all the basic equipment required for its role (e.g. Passenger seats, galley, tollets, etc.) are fitted, the aircraft has to be weighed prior to it entering service and at set intervals throughout its service life. The frequency of these subsequent mass evaluations is covered later. The initial weighing is to find the aeroplane's basic empty mass (BEM). This includes the: Unusable fuel and other unusable fluids Lubricating oll in the engine and auxiliary units Fire extinguishers Pyrotechnics. Emergency oxygen equipment ‘Supplementary electronic equipment PaReNa 1. In the case of fuel, the term unusable means the fuel that cannot be drawn from the tanks to operate the engine. The term other unusable fluids covers hydraulic fluid and cooling fluid These must be charged to their correct level. This does not include the potable water (Grinking water) or the lavatory pre-charge. 2. The engines and auxiliary units must be filled to their correct levels. 3. The fire extinguishers (hand-held) must be fitted at the designated location; all fire extinguishers have to be correctly charged. 4. Any pyrotechnics required to be carried or fitted as standard are correctly located 5. The emergency oxygen equipment is fitted 6. Any supplementary electronic equipment that is carried as standard is correctly fitted in the given location. In accordance with JAR-Ops 1, all weighing operations must be carried out in an enclosed buiiding, The BEM is offen used as the starting point for light aircraft mass and balance calculations. However, whilst the BEM will have been calculated for JAR 25 aircraft, the starting point for all operational mass and balance calculations is the Dry Operating Mass (DOM). Mass & Balance a1Chapter 4 Mass Definitions and Limitations Dry Operating Mass (DOM) — Is the total mass of the aeroplane ready for a specific type of operation excluding all usable fuel and traffic load. The mass includes items such as: 1. Crew and crew baggage 2. Catering and removable passenger service equipment 3. Potable water and lavatory chemicals 4. Food and beverages 4. The crew includes the rear crew for passenger operation ‘The passenger service and catering equipment can vary depending on the role and passenger configuration (@.g. V.ILP. to charter). 3. Potable water is chemically treated (purified) water. 4, Food and beverage vary dependent on role and length of fight. Note: This definition excludes usable fuel and traffic load. The items included are often termed variable load. While ot a JAR term, or given in the CAP 696, itis in common usage in the aviation industry. BEM + Variable Load = Dry Operating Mass Traffic Load — The total mass of passengers, baggage, and cargo, including any non-revenue load. ‘The non-revenue load includes items that the aircraft carries that are not used in flight or are part of the aircraft's role equipment and no financial charge is made. Frequently, air transport aircraft carry spare wheels and brake units when making trips to airports where they do not have these items as standard spares. On other occasions, the aircraft may require carrying ballast to balance out an item of freight. Note: Traffic load does not include usable fuel. Two further traffic load related definitions are normally regarded as Air Transport Aircraft (JAR 25) terms but can be used for lighter aircraft. They are: Allowed Traffic Load — The maximum mass of traffic load that an aircraft can carry. Many aircraft cannot carry both their maximum fuel load and maximum passenger load at the same time due to structural limitation or performance limitations; therefore, a maximum limit is set. Under Load — This is the difference between the actual traffic load and the allowed traffic load, This is the term given to the extra mass that the aircraft can carry if it is loaded to the allowed traffic load. For example, if an aircraft has an allowed traffic load of 4000 kg but is only carrying a traffic load of 3500 kg, there is an under load of 500 kg. Pay Load — This is defined as that part of the traffic load from which the revenue is earned. 42 Mass & BalanceMass Definitions and Limitations Chapter 4 {At this point, an aircraft at DOM could be loaded in one of two ways. Both conditions have their ‘own definitions, which are given below. However, to put them in the correct context, the fuel definitions need to be understood. FUEL DEFINITIONS ‘These are’ Block Fuel, also termed Bulk Fuel or Ramp Fuel Start, Run-up, and Taxi Fuel Take-Off Fuel Trip Fuel Landing Fuel a. Contingency Fuel b. Reserve Fuel paeNe 1. Block or Ramp Fuel is the full fuel load put into the aircraft. This can take the aircraft above its maximum take-off mass. 2, Start, Run-up, and Taxi Fuel, often referred to as start fuel, is an allowance made for consumption of fuel in starting the engines, running them up, and taxiing to the take-off point. This is normally given by aitport and depends on the type of aircraft, its stand location, and the runway in use. 3. Take-Off Fuel (TOF) is the full load on board the aircraft at the start of the take-off run. Block Fuel less Start Fuel equals Take-Off Fuel 4, Trip Fuel (TF) is the fuel that is estimated to be burt during the flight from the ‘commencement of the take-off run to the completion of the landing run. In realty, this ‘can vary due to unexpected headwinds or tailwinds, etc. 5. Landing Fuel is the estimated fuel load on touchdown and contains the contingency end reserve fuel elements. Take-Off Fuel less Trip Fuel equals Landing Fuel. To summarise Landing Fuel + Trip Fuel = Take-Off Fuel Take-Off Fuel+ Start Fuel = =~ Ramp Fuel Operating Mass (OM) — Is the DOM plus fuel but without traffic load. From DOM, the aircraft can be brought up to OM by loading the Take-Off Fuel (TOF) but none of the passengers, baggage, ballast, and cargo. DOM + TOF = OM BEM + VL + TOF = OM Zero Fuel Mass (ZFM) — Is DOM plus traffic load but excluding fuel. From DOM, the aircraft can be brought up to ZFM by loading all of the passengers, baggage, ballast, and cargo but none of the fuel Mass & Balance 43