What is the purpose of CG in flight planning?

• A. It determines the aircraft’s color.
• B. It determines the center of gravity within published limits; affects stability, controllability, stall behavior, and performance.
• C. It determines the weather forecast.
• D. It determines the flight route.

Answer: (B)

Weight balance is all about where the airplane’s weight sits relative to its designed balance point. In flight planning, the center of gravity (CG) location is tracked to keep the aircraft within published limits because that position directly affects how the airplane behaves in pitch, how much control you have, and how it will perform during takeoff, flight, and landing.

If the CG is within the approved range, the airplane remains predictable: the tail and elevator can trim and control the aircraft effectively, and the handling stays stable enough for safe maneuvering. The CG also influences stall behavior and overall performance. A forward CG makes the aircraft more stable and nose-heavy, requiring more elevator force to rotate and increasing stall speed, which can reduce maneuverability and lengthen takeoff and landing distances. An aft CG, while making the airplane more agile, reduces stability and elevator authority, potentially leading to overly sensitive control and, in extreme cases, unsafe pitch responses or unusual stall characteristics.

So, the purpose of CG in flight planning is to ensure the aircraft remains within published limits to provide safe, predictable stability, controllability, stance during stall, and overall performance.