How is the weight of children aged 2 through 12 calculated for aircraft weight and balance?

• A. One half of an adult
• B. Two thirds of an adult
• C. Equal to an adult
• D. Zero weight

Answer: (A)

In weight and balance calculations, the weight assigned to children aged 2 through 12 is treated as half the weight of an average adult. This simple convention provides a reasonable, conservative estimate for planning when you don’t have exact weights for every passenger. It keeps the center of gravity calculations within safe limits because children are lighter than adults but still contribute to the airplane’s weight and moment. If actual weights are available, use them instead for the most accurate balance. The other options would either overestimate the child’s impact (two-thirds), overstate it by equating to an adult, or ignore it entirely (zero weight), which would lead to inaccurate CG and potential safety issues.