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ATPL subject 031

ATPL Mass and Balance: what it covers and how to study it

Mass and Balance (subject 031) is about loading the aeroplane safely: working out its mass, where the centre of gravity sits and whether both are within limits. It is a calculation paper, so the method matters as much as the theory.

By Matthew Dowell, airline training captain and Chief Flight Instructor. A revision guide, not approved by any regulator. Your training organisation sets the syllabus and exam rules, and regulations always take precedence.

What the Mass and Balance paper covers

• Mass terms and limits
• Centre of gravity and how it moves with loading
• Calculations with the loading datum, arms and moments
• Load and trim sheets
• Effects of fuel burn and changes in load

Where students find it hard

The mistakes are rarely in the idea and usually in the arithmetic or the units. Students lose marks by mixing up a datum, forgetting a sign, or reading the wrong line of a table. Speed with a calculator and a methodical layout make a large difference.

How to study Mass and Balance

• Learn one reliable method for each calculation type and use it every time.
• Always write units and check that the answer is sensible before moving on.
• Work through complete examples on one aeroplane so the load sheet becomes familiar.

The Mastering ATPL book for this subject

The Mastering ATPL Mass and Balance book is available on Amazon and through the Other stores links, with the calculations worked on one aeroplane.

Mastering ATPL · Subject 031

Mass and Balance

Loading, centre of gravity and the load sheet, worked on one aeroplane.

Buy on Amazon UK Amazon US Other stores

Also on Amazon in Europe: Amazon.de · Amazon.fr · Amazon.es · Amazon.it · Amazon.nl

How this book is organised

The book follows the topics listed above, in turn, starting with mass terms and limits; centre of gravity and how it moves with loading; calculations with the loading datum, arms and moments, so you can see which part of the paper you are covering at any point. It is a complete revision guide and question bank built on the full published learning objectives for the subject, and it ends with a mock examination weighted as the real one. Work through a section, test yourself on it, and keep the mock examination for the end, under timed conditions.

Related subjects

• ATPL Performance
• ATPL Flight Planning
• ATPL Instrumentation

See also: all 13 ATPL subjects and 14 study guides · how the EASA ATPL exams work · what order to study and sit the papers · Mass and Balance in the airline technical interview.