I would like to petition the FAA to include spreadsheets within the allowed ways to accomplish existing 

methods of weight & balance. Weight and balance is currently taught within the Pilot's Handbook of 

Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A) and the Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-

1A) and within several FAA-8083-() documents, and many other FAA-Approved Approved Aircraft Flight 

Manuals, etc. It is not my intention to change current aircraft certification standards to be updated so as to 

exclude currently approved and taught methods of performing weight and balance.

Methods for performing Weight and Balance found in Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge include 

three methods mentioned on pages 9-7 through 9-11; the Computational Method, the Graph Method, and the 

Table Method.

I am a Flight Instructor who has taught airmen how to do weight and balance, and a former international FAR 

121 airline pilot. As an FAR Part 121 airline pilot, I was denied the ability to complete weight and balance 

within my Excel spreadsheets. I simply wanted to use Excel spreadsheets to complete the Table method of 

performing weight and balance using adjusted weights that combine rounded weights and moments within one 

numeral. Fearing that I would “enter weight and balance data into the spreadsheets that was possibly out of date 

and inaccurate”, which was not the case at all as I was entering only information needed for the immediate 

flight from updated lists, a check airman disallowed me the use of the calculator known as Excel spreadsheets. 

After all, Excel or any other spreadsheet type was never included in any FAA publication.

Currently approved methods of approved weight and balance procedures include the Computational Method, 

the Graph Method, and the Table Method. While these methods are based on technologies that existed in the 

early decades of aviation, more accurate methods will eventually be required as fuel consumption reduction 

based on most advantageous Center of Gravity for reducing lift-associated-drag (induced drag) reduction, often 

a rearward CG with traditional empennage down force designs, may require highly accurate methods of 

computing CG. Aircraft could be loaded more properly and accurately for fuel burn reduction if spreadsheets 

were available, but older methods could still be used if technology were not available to accomplish weight and 

balance, with greater flight restrictions possibly necessary. Current technology includes weight scales and 

weight sensors that can be used to accurately weigh all people, cargo, fuel, water, and amenities loaded onto an 

aircraft. Combined with the proper arm, we can multiply weight times arm to generate the proper moment.

Transitioning presently approved procedures of accomplishing weight and balance to include and incorporate 

spreadsheets will help many perform calculations today. This is not to exclude present methods of weight and 

balance calculations. There is no need to change currently certified aircraft and training methods. 

The FAA has not, to my knowledge, been in the business of approving or disapproving all possible calculators 

that may be used to calculate weight and balance. I have flown in FAR Part 121 Supplemental Airline service

where extremely fast and accurate weight and balance data was needed. Any transposition of numerals to 

incorrect numbers would have to be identified and corrected as fast as possible. Spreadsheets isolate data inputs 

for later inspection as do few calculators. Using spreadsheets may actually help in any case, and this does not 

change any currently approved and use methods of calculating weight and balance. 

Helicopters have lateral and longitudinal Center of Gravity Envelopes which must be examined, too; this is 

deferred to the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-21; it is also found in the Aircraft Weight and 

Balance Handbook (FAA-H-8083-1A). And those aircraft having Percentage of Mean Aerodynamic Chord 

Center of Gravity calculations are addressed within the pages of Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook (FAAH-8083-1A), but not within the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge; this method is common among 

airliners and some gliders! 

The Spreadsheet Method adds to the arsenal of tools available today and prepares for additional possibilities in 

the future. 
In the future, the "Spreadsheet Method" can become its own method gradually from aircraft certification 

onwards. Spreadsheet Method needs only inputs that outputs longitudinal CG and, if needed, lateral Center of 

Gravity calculations. In addition, if Percentage of Mean Aerodynamic Chord calculations are needed, it would 

be practical to do those calculations within a spreadsheet. All CG and Weight calculations are easily performed 

in a spreadsheet that allows entries to be checked instantly for possible error. The transition to this possibility of 

the future begins by teaching spreadsheet calculator usage to accomplish Table, Graph, and Computational 

Methods of Weight and Balance. Today, spreadsheets should be taught as an optional, additional tool to 

accomplish any method of Weight and Balance. The Computational Method should always be retained in its 

most basic, pencil and paper form so that airmen understand the basics of weight and balance.

Transitioning presently approved procedures of accomplishing weight and balance to include and incorporate 

spreadsheets will help many perform calculations today. This is not to exclude present methods of weight and 

balance calculations. There is no need to change currently certified aircraft and training methods. 

I find it necessary to ask for permission to use spreadsheets as a simple calculator because I have been denied 

permission by a check airman at an airline when I simply wanted to input data for a single flight, and have the 

tool ready to input data for each flight directly into the spreadsheet every flight. 

Using spreadsheets, Airmen (Pilots, Mechanics, Repairmen, Flight Engineers, Flight and Ground Instructors) 

will exercise spreadsheet disciplines in order to learn spreadsheet setup and make everyday entries to do the 

calculations of weight and balance. Disciplines needed to perform spreadsheet setup and accurate use will be 

stressed as it is taught.

Pitfalls of using spreadsheets, such as inputting updated, correct data and discussion of updating databases of 

current aircraft weight and balance will be included as airmen are taught.