Aeronautical Terms beginning with L

Landing Weight

The takeoff weight of an aircraft less the fuel burned and/or dumped en route.

Large Aircraft

An aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight. As defined in 14 CFR part 1.

Lateral Balance

Balance around the roll, or longitudinal, axis.

Lateral Offset Moment

The moment, in lb-in, of a force that tends to rotate a helicopter about its longitudinal axis. The lateral offset moment is the product of the weight of the object and its distance from butt line zero. Lateral offset moments that tend to rotate the aircraft clockwise are positive, and those that tend to rotate it counterclockwise are negative.

Load Cell

A component in an electronic weighing system that is placed between the jack and the jack pad on the aircraft. The load cell contains strain gauges whose resistance changes with the weight on the cell.

Load Factor

The ratio of the maximum load an aircraft can sustain to the total weight of the aircraft. Normal category aircraft must have a load factor of a least 3.8, Utility category aircraft 4.4, and acrobatic category aircraft, 6.0.

Loading Graph

A graph of load weight and load moment indexes. Diagonal lines for each item relate the weight to the moment index without having to use mathematics.

Loading Schedule

A method for calculating and documenting aircraft weight and balance prior to taxiing, to ensure the aircraft will remain within all required weight and balance limitations throughout the flight.