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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Calculate and adjust aircraft weight and balance parameters 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252121  Calculate and adjust aircraft weight and balance parameters 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Aerospace Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Physical Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Persons credited with this unit standard are able to perform aircraft weight and balance calculations, using data selected for the specific operation and by applying the appropriate rules in order to ensure the safe and optimal loading of the aircraft. Learners will produce a load and weight and balance folio which meets all applicable safety and legal requirements.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Confirming all applicable data to be used in calculation and adjustment of aircraft weight and balance in a given scenario.
  • Applying the rules to release the flight in accordance with aircraft weight and balance parameters in a given scenario.
  • Validating the aircraft loading and weight and balance calculation. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Mathematics at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Computer Lliteracy at NQF Level 3 or equivalent.
  • Physical Science at NQF Level 4 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    A given scenario should include the following criteria:
  • Time constraints, aircraft constraints, route be flown, environmental conditions, load to be carried, special considerations to dangerous goods. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Confirm all applicable data to be used in calculation and adjustment of aircraft weight and balance in a given scenario. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Sources of data may include but are not limited to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Military Aviation Authority, Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), Aircraft manufactures, ICAO, IATA, company policy, and approved suppliers and vendors. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Sources of data are investigated in order to determine which data is applicable to the flight to be operated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Data is identified in order to determine which data are applicable to the flight to be operated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Data is justified and quantified by quality and sufficiency of evidence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Data is analysed by taking all applicable safety and legal requirements into account. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Supporting processes are used to produce the required weight and balance outputs. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Supporting processes include but are not limited to manual and automated processes, telephone, radio, facsimile and other multi-media communication and information management systems, flight planning, aircraft performance calculations, Operational Planning and Control and Graphical User Interface also known as "information communication technology management (ICTM)).
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Apply the rules to release the flight in accordance with aircraft weight and balance parameters in a given scenario. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The aircraft hold/seating configuration is adjusted as necessary to accommodate the cargo and passengers. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The unit load devices are determined to accommodate the cargo load. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Unit load devices include but are not limited to containers and pallets.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The compiled aircraft Loading Instruction Report is used to facilitate the loading of the aircraft according to industry best practice, safety and legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The consequences of producing an incorrect Loading Instruction Report are explained in terms of the legal implications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    An Estimated Zero Fuel Weight (EZFW) is calculated to facilitate the fuel and time data calculation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Aircraft weight and balance parameters are determined to ensure the safe load and balance of the flight to be operated. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Determined includes calculating, verifying and adjusting if necessary.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The carriage and loading of dangerous goods, special loads and hazardous materials is planned in accordance with applicable safety and legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    The consequences of non-compliance with dangerous good regulations are explained in terms of its effects on aviation safety. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    The consequences of non-optimal loading is explained in terms of flight operations and aircraft performance. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Validate the aircraft loading and weight and balance calculation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The weight and balance calculation is reviewed in terms of safety and legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Loading of the aircraft is verified according to the Loading Instruction Report. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All load and weight and balance documentation is communicated to the pilot in command in accordance with regulations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Communicated could either be an automated dispatch system or a physical briefing consisting of documentation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The carriage and loading of dangerous goods, special loads and hazardous materials are confirmed to be in accordance with applicable safety and legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The load and weight and balance documentation folio is archived in accordance with regulations. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this Unit Standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Aviation terminology.
  • The nature, purpose and contents of sources of data.
  • The use and value of supporting systems and applications for aircraft weight and balance.
  • Loading Instruction Reports and aircraft weight and balance calculations.
  • Aviation safety and legal requirements, rules and regulations. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems when adjusting the aircraft hold/seating configuration and determining the appropriate unit load devices. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities in such a way that the load and weight and balance documentation folio can be archived in accordance with the regulations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information to be able to compile the aircraft specific Loading Instruction Sheet, the Estimated Zero Fuel Weight and the aircraft weight and balance parameters. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively in the process of ensuring that the load and weight and balance documentation is accepted by the pilot in command. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology, in the form of supporting systems and applications to gather, capture, store and process data to be incorporated into calculating and adjusting aircraft weight and balance. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  59256   National Diploma: Flight Dispatch  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2016-12-31  TETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.