SPO.POL.115 Mass and balance data and documentation – commercial operations with aeroplanes and helicopters and noncommercial operations with complex motor-powered aircraft

GENERAL

(a)The mass and balance documentation should:

(1)enable the pilot-in-command to determine that the load and its distribution are within the mass and balance limits of the aircraft; and

(2)include advise to the pilot-in-command whenever a non-standard method has been used for determining the mass of the load.

(b)The information above may be available in flight planning documents or mass and balance systems.

(c)Any last minute change should be brought to the attention of the pilot-in-command and entered in the flight planning documents containing the mass and balance information and mass and balance systems.

(d)Where mass and balance documentation is generated by a computerised mass and balance system, the operator should verify the integrity of the output data at intervals not exceeding six months.

(e)A copy of the final mass and balance documentation may be sent to aircraft via data link or may be made available to the pilot-in–command by other means for its acceptance.

(f)The person supervising the loading of the aircraft should confirm by hand signature or equivalent that the load and its distribution are in accordance with the mass and balance documentation given to the pilot in command. The pilot-in-command should indicate his acceptance by hand signature or equivalent.

SIGNATURE OR EQUIVALENT Where a signature by hand is impracticable or it is desirable to arrange the equivalent verification by electronic means, as referred to in AMC1 SPO.POL.115(f), the following conditions should be applied in order to make an electronic signature the equivalent of a conventional hand-written signature:

(a)electronic ‘signing’ by entering a personal identification number (PIN) code with appropriate security, etc.;

(b)entering the PIN code generates a print-out of the individual’s name and professional capacity on the relevant document(s) in such a way that it is evident, to anyone having a need for that information, who has signed the document;

(c)the computer system logs information to indicate when and where each PIN code has been entered;

(d)the use of the PIN code is, from a legal and responsibility point of view, considered to be fully equivalent to signature by hand;

(e)the requirements for record keeping remain unchanged; and

(f)all personnel concerned are made aware of the conditions associated with electronic signature and this is documented.

INTEGRITY The operator should verify the integrity of mass and balance data and documentation generated by a computerised mass and balance system, at intervals not exceeding six months. The operator should establish a system to check that amendments of its input data are incorporated properly in the system and that the system is operating correctly on a continuous basis.

MASS AND BALANCE DOCUMENTATION SENT VIA DATA LINK Whenever the mass and balance documentation is sent to the aircraft via data link, a copy of the final mass and balance documentation as accepted by the pilot-in-command should be available on the ground.

ON BOARD INTEGRATED MASS AND BALANCE COMPUTER SYSTEM An on-board integrated mass and balance computer system may be an aircraft installed system capable of receiving input data either from other aircraft systems or from a mass and balance system on ground, in order to generate mass and balance data as an output.

STAND-ALONE COMPUTERISED MASS AND BALANCE SYSTEM A stand-alone computerised mass and balance system may be a computer, either as part of an electronic flight bag (EFB) system or solely dedicated to mass and balance purposes, requiring input from the user, in order to generate mass and balance data as an output.