Why is weight important in flight?

Weight is a major factor in aircraft construction and operation and demands respect from all pilots. The force of gravity continuously attempts to pull an aircraft down toward Earth. The force of lift is the only force that counteracts weight and sustains an aircraft in flight.



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Excessive weight can negatively affect an airplane's speed, take-off and landing distance, rate of climb, ceiling (maximum altitude), maneuverability, and range.

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However, a 2019 advisory from the FAA said airlines can weigh passengers, according to CNBC. “It allows us to have actual accurate and current, up-to-date weights for our particular flight,” Captain Laura Einsetler, a commercial airline pilot with more than 30 years of aviation experience, told NewsNation.

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Excessive weight can negatively affect an airplane's speed, take-off and landing distance, rate of climb, ceiling (maximum altitude), maneuverability, and range. Excessive weight often requires a pilot to reconsider the requirements of the trip. If maximum range is required, occupants or cargo loads must be decreased.

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An overloaded small plane may not be able to leave the ground, or if it does become airborne, it may exhibit unexpected and unusually poor performance characteristics. The most important performance deficiencies of an overloaded airplane are: Higher takeoff speed. Longer takeoff run.

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Regardless, on average, heavier designs typically fly faster than lighter designs. This is kind of intuitive if you think about it. For any given wing area (and all else being equal) more weight requires faster speed though the air in order to maintain sufficient lift.

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Most airlines are extremely strict checking your baggage weight and will charge you an outrageous amount of money for over their set limit. If you expect to go over the limit it is cheaper to buy the extra weight when you book the flight online.

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Each bag should weigh less than 23KG/50LBS. This is an international regulation set for the health and safety of airport workers who have to lift hundreds of bags daily.

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As The Independent has reported previously, weighing every passenger before a flight can increase safety and cut the environmental harm caused by each flight. At present, airlines use “assumed mass” – estimating the total weight of the passengers by using set figures. Typically each passenger is assumed to weigh 88kg.

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How does the airliner crew know if the plane is overweight before takeoff? To ensure that an airliner is within its weight and balance limits, the crew uses a system that consists of three elements: weighing, recording, and loading.

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Yes, a weight and balance issue can be more critical on smaller airplane because a even a small error accounts for a larger percentage of the total weight. A 500-lb. error on an airplane that weighs 5,000 lbs., adds up to a larger percentage of the total weight.

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So can you expect to find yourself on a scale before boarding your next domestic flight? Likely, no, but it isn't impossible. The U.S. does not require airlines to weigh passengers as South Korea does. However, a 2019 advisory from the FAA said airlines can weigh passengers, according to CNBC.

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While some travelers may be surprised to find themselves asked to step on a scale, this decision isn't made by airlines – it's often mandated by governmental airline regulators.

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If your bag is over 50 lbs (23 kg), or if its length, width, and height added together are over 62 inches (157 cm), you may be charged an additional fee, on top of the normal bag fee.

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In general, obese passengers on airlines who require a seatbelt extender and/or cannot lower the armrests between seats are asked to pay for a second seat on their flight, unless there are two empty seats together somewhere on the plane. Special size passengers have little to no choice when it comes to this rule.

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What about stepping on a scale? Many reacted less-than-fondly to an announcement earlier this month that Korean Air, a South Korea-based airline, planned to weigh passengers before boarding. A representative for the airline told CNBC the practice would last for about three weeks, and is required by law.

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Do airlines allow 1kg overweight? Bags weighing 50 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg) are accepted as overweight. Bags measuring 63 to 115 in (160 to 292 cm) are accepted as oversized.

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If your flight ticket is marked with the code “2 PC”, you may take two pieces of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kg. If your flight ticket is marked with the code “3 PC”, you may take three pieces of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kg.

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On all flights, except to and from the United States, each passenger can purchase a checked luggage weight allowance of 20 kg, 25 kg, 30 kg, or 40 kg. It doesn't matter how many bags the total weight is split into, but no bag can be over 32 kg (70 lbs) in weight and 319 cm (126 inches) in total dimensions.

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How fat is too fat to fly? Even though there are no weight limits for fat passengers, there are normally three basic requirements for flying while overweight: Passengers must be able to sit with both armrests down. Passengers must be able to buckle their seatbelts.

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