WingWeigh – Aircraft Weighing.
“The best a plane can get”
We use professional weighing equipment specifically for Aircraft. They are Made by well known manufacturer Salter and they are from their Brecknall range. We do not use scales made for car use. Each scale has a roll on roll off platform and we carry a spare one should you need to weigh anything unusual that has four points of contact with the ground.
The weights are displayed remotely on each control box screen and may then entered onto a full LAA approved standard form or, for CofA types, an alternative report form where all necessary calculations are performed by the software.
All calculations and example loadings are produced in accordance with BCAR recommendations and sent to you as a colour printable set of forms/Weight & Balance report tailored to your aircraft.
The measuring system is accurate to within +/- 100grams (about 4 ounces) . Each pad has a maximum load of 1100lbs (500kg), giving a theoretical total load of 3300lbs (1500kg). The weighing platforms are calibrated to a traceable standard and check weights are used to maintain reliability.
Aircraft from the
lightest Cree Cree to the heaviest RV and the Cessna 172 and Piper Warrior
range can easily be accommodated.
A typical aircraft Weight & Balance will involve you configuring the aircraft into
it's dry, empty weight. This usually means removing fuel prior to our arrival
and removing all your pilot gear, headsets, lifejackets etc. Reasonably level,
firm ground is required where we can level the aircraft, mark and measure the datum points and then roll your
aircraft on to the weighing pads. The manufacturer/designers datum points will
be located using plumb lines. Weights & distances are then
recorded and the Centre of Gravity is calculated.
The process is made easy by the quality of the equipment. Rolling the aircraft
onto the scales ensures there is no bias of weight that is often associated with
lifting or jacking one wheel at a time. Owner participation is required for
rolling the aircraft onto the ramps and ensuring accurate measurements.
The CAA and LAA recommend that light aircraft be weighed at least every 10
years. All aircraft have to be re-weighed after re-builds, major repairs,
re-sprays or major modifications. The mandatory 5 yearly weighing of Microlights
has now been removed.
Nose wheel, tail wheel or mono wheel aircraft can be accommodated.
All paperwork produced is countersigned by your LAe or LAA
inspector
for embodying into your aeroplanes records.