By FAA regulation, commercial pilots are responsible for knowing the limitations of the aircraft, plus the ramp, take-off and landing weight of the aircraft as well. I would have NO problem stepping on weigh scales prior to boarding. However, there are many other reasons why I do not fly commercial.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
I remember flying in a DC-3, and having to be weighed before boarding. Back then, IIRC, your seat assignment could be determined by your weight. So, it is nothing new.
I have built pieces of airplanes, and installed them on the airframe, in the past. I hold an A&P license. I don't fly. I don't even go to airports.
I'll take a bus, take the train, drive myself, but no airplane.
* This post was
edited 06/08/08 10:58am by mowermech *
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
As much as I wish it wouldn't happen, I can see that it may be a necessity from the airlines point of view...I suspect it is not a weight/balance issue, but more of a matter of trying to offset rapidly escalating fuel costs. I think I recall when airlines figured the average weight of a passenger was 170#....think we're long past that at this point.
Personally, I'd much rather take a train or drive when going from A to B, but when A is Ewe-stun and B is Anchorage, both driving and trains are impractical, at least for another 5 years or so.
Although it's a much different calculation, I do a rough calculation of everyone/everything on board the PA12 before I take off. As the guy up front, that calculation always means a second trip if there is any passenger that is as heavy as I am.
CRL
Temporarily (5 years & counting)displaced Alaskan
My Other RV is a 1946 PA-12
Cloud Dancer wrote: By FAA regulation, commercial pilots are responsible for knowing the limitations of the aircraft, plus the ramp, take-off and landing weight of the aircraft as well. I would have NO problem stepping on weigh scales prior to boarding. However, there are many other reasons why I do not fly commercial.
I think it's a big "If," myself.
You are speaking as an informed pilot and I know that besides the fuel costs, the total weight of an airplane is crucial for safety.
Wouldn't bother me at all to get on the scale, but I agree with you...flying commercial doesn't appeal to me at all.
On edit...I just saw this "I think I recall when airlines figured the average weight of a passenger was 170#....think we're long past that at this point."
And, of course, that's definitely true. The bottom line is that they can pretty much do what they want to, and then we get to make our own choices.
Got no problem with me being weighed. HS weight was 165lbs, after 10 years of being married was 185lbs, then I wised up and started doing something about it. After 35 years of marriage now weigh 145lbs.
Doing my best to be around as long as possible for my 9yo, 7yo, 6yo, 3yo and soon to be adopted, as of Tuesday, 2 1/2yo grandchildren.
I understand where they are coming from... I was a little aggravated when we rode the cable car in San Francisco. The lady next to me was wide; I had scooted way over and still her fat was all up against ME. Many times, at NASCAR races, when we have sat in the stands (which I despise), we have seen people take up 1 1/2 spaces, which isn't fair to the others. JMO
I can understand their position, mail "travels by weight", why not people? However, if they start weighing people and use a benchmark of say, 130 lbs. for an adult male, then it's really a disguised price increase across the board.
For those of us who are "Senior Citizens" check out the Amtrak rates. I am very tempted to take a trip from Chicago to Seattle this summer but can't get a sleeper schedule because they are so crowded. I also have nice wide seats in my MH although I am close to the weight limit. I just got weighed the other day and found I can either take my wife or clothes & cameras. I am having a difficult time deciding right now. Maybe I will just have to take another 50 gal. less water and save 400# that way so we can all go together.
Mr. Camper wrote: Give me the romantic rail travel of our past, today in Europe and even our friends in Canada. .
I spend hundreds of hours on trains back in Europe (lot of them steam trains) but have to point that past and today are different things.
I missed the opportunity learning about it too late on my vacations in Paris. You can board the train in the morning, go to London eating the breakfast on the train, spend like 10 hr in London and be back in Paris after dinner on the train before 10 PM. For quite affordable price.
That "Silver bullet" goes about 250 mph. Might be romantic, but not by our older memories standards.
Don't recall reading anything about weight limits.
Pessimist sees dark tunnel, optimist sees a light at the end, realist sees lights of coming train.Engineer sees 3 idiots on the tracks.
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