Given the following information, calculate the permissible Traffic Load of a helicopter:
Take-Off Mass (TOM): 8 220 kg
Basic Empty Mass (BEM): 4 920 kg
Take-Off Fuel (TOF) (including Reserve Fuel of 710 kg): 1750 kg
Crew and operating items: 420 kg
Refer to figures.
Basic Empty Mass (BEM) is the mass of the helicopter and all its basic equipment and that of the declared quantity of unusable fuel. It also includes any fixed ballast, full operating fluids.
Dry Operating Mass (DOM) is the total mass of the helicopter ready for a specific type of operation excluding all usable fuel and traffic load. This mass includes the items below, known as Variable Load (VL):
- Crew and crew baggage
- Catering and removable passenger service equipment
- Portable water and lavatory chemicals
- Food and beverages
- Rescue hoist, winch. etc.
Take-Off Mass (TOM) is the mass of a helicopter including everything and everyone contained within it at the start of the take-off run.
Take-Off Fuel (TOF) is the fuel onboard including reserve fuel at the start of the helicopter's take-off run.
Traffic load (TL) in a helicopter refers to the number of passengers or cargo that the aircraft is carrying at a given time. It is used to determine the weight and balance of the helicopter, which is important for safe flight. The maximum traffic load of a helicopter is determined by its design and is specified in its flight manual.
We can easily find out the TL by referring to the figure attached, giving:
- TL = TOM - TOF - VL - BEM
- TL = 8 220 kg - 1 750 kg - 420 kg - 4 920 kg
- TL = 1 130 kg
NOTE:
For this type of questions, it’s advised to make a table with the different masses. Thus, giving a visual and simplified way of finding the mass in question.
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