Please step on the scale......

Thanks. I enjoyed reading that.

Good idea other than the possibility that the "big" passengers may not volunteer to be weighed.

Weight and balance is important for aircraft operations. I've flown on lightly loaded commuter aircraft where all of us passengers were ordered to sit in the back of the aircraft. I've flown on helicopters where each passenger and luggage were weighed and we were assigned a specific seat.

On one six-seat single engine charter flight, our pilot had a story about weight and balance. He loaded the first passenger, a big woman in the back seat. The tricycle geared plane dropped onto its tail skid. He had a weight and balance problem that manifested itself before even starting the engine. Lesson learned is checking weight and balance even if it is only by estimating passenger weights.

What is invisible to us passengers are the assumptions airlines make in terms of passenger and carry-on baggage weights. Cargo hold baggage and cargo are weighted. Passenger weight is assumed. At one time passenger weights were assumed to be 170 pounds on average with allowances for added clothing weight during winter. Passengers seem to be getting heavier with each passing decade and with the domestic added baggage fees, carry-on weights are increasing. The higher weights affect aircraft to too many ways.

men carry on heavier items than women.

Is that because the women make the men carry their heavy stuff?

When we checked-in at FRA for the flight home, Robin's roller (she checked it home, but carried it on going) weighed 21.8#. I weighed my carryon when we got home. It weighed 17.2#, but 4# was the charger and spare battery for her oxygen concentrator.

Interesting.......When I travel with others, no one carries my "things"...passport, boarding pass, change, etc, etc and I certainly don't carry their "things." Each person carries hie/her own stuff.

Lee, I was thinking the same thing - ha! Our RS guidebook always goes in his bag along with the hiking trail bag of snacks.