What is the purpose of maintaining weight and balance records after a flight?

• A. To track passenger weight for payment.
• B. To estimate baggage fees.
• C. To ensure aircraft center of gravity remains within limits for safe performance.
• D. To schedule next flight crew shift.

Answer: (C)

Maintaining weight and balance records focuses on keeping the airplane’s center of gravity within the certified limits. The center of gravity is where the aircraft’s mass is concentrated, and if it shifts outside acceptable bounds, stability, control effectiveness, and stall characteristics can be affected, impacting safe takeoff, flight, and landing. By recording the actual weights and loading distribution after each flight, operators can verify the CG stays within safe limits for every mission and use that data to plan future flights with proper performance margins. The other options don’t involve aircraft stability or performance, so they don’t serve the safety purpose of these records.