Agency Tells Airlines to Weigh Passengers

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=716&e=8&u=/ap/20040227/ap_on_re_us/airlines_passenger_weight

<Snip>
Following its investigation into a commuter plane crash last year in North Carolina, the NTSB (news - web sites) said on Thursday that airlines should at least periodically make passengers step on a scale.

The safety board also recommended the Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) require improvements to training, oversight and procedures for maintenance personnel.

The crash of US Airways Express Flight 5481 at Charlotte-Douglas Airport killed 21 people, the deadliest U.S. aviation accident in nearly 2 1/2 years.

The Beech 1900, operated by Air Midwest, was virtually uncontrollable because of two fatal mistakes, the safety board concluded.

[classics]

1. Estimating baggage weight?

Is this checked baggage? I dont recall ever getting on a commercial flight that didnt weigh baggage as part of check in. Its unlikely that someone is checking suitcases full of bricks unless someone is asleep at the switch.

[CaptainClark23]

2. Indeed

take-off weight is critical to fuel calculations.

I guess Atkins plan should be part of CAPPS II, eh?

[lazarus]

4. It's not just that

it's balance. On those small planes, you need to have the weight balanced.

[Tracer]

3. I was weighed once.

On a 6-seater flight from the Cape to Nantucket. I didn't mind, but my hefty friend was embarrased.

[yellowcanine]

5. On a small commuter plane balance is important also

So they need to weigh the passengers to distribute the load properly. I was on an Alaska Air flight one time and the pilot came back and had passengers change seats until he was satisfied the weight was properly distributed. He just eyeballed us, however.

[central scrutinizer]

7. had the same experience

the flight was only about 1/4 full so they asked us all to sit in the back and evenly distributed on each side to make the takeoff easier. Once at cruising altitude, we could move back to the seats we wanted.

[bleedingheart]

6. this is understandable with small planes...

I recall a commuter flight on a 12 seater and the pilot asked a few of the passengers what their weight was and he moved us around to make sure the weight was distributed evenly..

Makes sense to me.