How should you document and communicate weight and balance changes during a flight?

• A. Update the weight and balance records, communicate changes to the crew and dispatch, and adjust the plan as needed.
• B. Hide changes until after landing.
• C. Document only after landing.
• D. Do not inform the crew about weight changes.

Answer: (A)

Weight and balance can change during flight due to fuel burn, passengers moving, or baggage shifting. To keep the aircraft within certified limits and preserve predictable performance, you must keep the weight and balance records current and communicate any changes to the crew and dispatch as soon as they occur. This allows the flight team to re-check performance calculations and adjust the plan as needed—whether that means changing fuel provisions, payload distribution, or routing and altitude to maintain safe handling and compliance. Hiding changes, waiting until after landing, documenting only later, or not informing the crew would leave the flight without accurate information and could compromise safety and performance.