What is the average crewmember weight?

• A. 180
• B. 190
• C. 195
• D. 170

Answer: (B)

In weight-and-balance planning, a fixed average crewmember weight is used to estimate the crew’s contribution to the aircraft’s weight and its center of gravity. The standard figure used for crewmembers is one hundred ninety pounds per person. This value is chosen by the FAA for Part 135 planning because it provides a safe, conservative estimate that accounts for typical clothing and gear worn by crew and keeps calculations consistent across flights. You multiply this weight by the number of crewmembers on board to determine the total crew weight included in the aircraft’s weight and balance. If actual crewmember weights are known, you can substitute them for greater accuracy, but for routine planning the one hundred ninety pounds figure is the default. Using other numbers would not reflect the standard regulatory figure for crew weight and could skew balance calculations.