PLT003: Center of Gravity
What code PLT003 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study Center of Gravity before your checkride.
Calculate aircraft performance - center of gravity
What this means for your checkride
Finding the center of gravity means summing the moments, each item's weight times its arm, and dividing by total weight. The result must fall between the forward and aft CG limits in the POH for the airplane to be safe to fly.
CG position changes stability and control, so the FAA tests whether you can compute it from a loading problem and confirm it is within limits.
Candidates check total weight but forget to confirm the CG falls inside the envelope, or mix up arm and moment in the arithmetic.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.