Originally Posted by
dcpatti
I believe awaflyboy was referring to having the correct weight and balance for the plane in regards to safety, not to the cost of fuel. I'm not sure how accurate the tabulations are, but Air Midwest DBA US Airways flight 5481 was less than 600 lb over it's maximum takeoff weight when it crashed.
There's an old saying about the FAA and weight/balance - measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an axe. In other words, if the weight/balance shows 1 lb over max weight it's a violation, but the only actual weight used is the weight of the airplane and cargo (real cargo, not baggage). Everything else uses averages, which may or may not be accurate.
I have no idea what US uses now, but they used to use adults weights for all the ticketed passengers unless child weights were necessary to be legal. Lap children were included in the parent's weight.
Jim