When computing weight and balance, an airplane is considered to be in balance when

• A. The airplane's empty weight CG
• B. The average moment arm of the loaded airplane falls within its CG range
• C. The total weight equals maximum gross weight
• D. The aircraft's color scheme

Answer: (B)

Balance comes from where the total weight acts, the center of gravity. For safe and controllable flight, the loaded airplane’s CG must lie between the forward and aft CG limits published for that weight. The average moment arm of the loaded airplane is essentially the CG location, because CG is found by dividing the total moments (sum of weight × arm) by the total weight. When that average moment arm falls within the permitted CG range, the aircraft is considered in balance. The other statements don’t reflect how balance is determined: empty-weight CG doesn’t account for how loading shifts weight, reaching maximum gross weight is a weight limit not a balance check, and color has no effect on balance.