Jacks vs Platforms in Aircraft Weighing: What Really Matters
- Coen Smit
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
The challenge behind every aircraft weighing
Every aircraft must be weighed accurately to stay compliant and safe, but the method matters.Should you weigh on jacks or on platform scales?
At CH-Aero, we’ve weighed more than 350 aircraft per year across 30+ countries — from airliners to business jets, helicopters and military drones. Our experience shows that “possible” doesn’t always mean “practical”.
Platform weighing: fast, safe and impressively accurate
Modern platform scales measure the full distributed load across the surface, not just one single point.That means even when a wheel is not perfectly centered, the result remains extremely accurate — often within 0.1 percent.
Platform weighing has become the preferred method for most on-site aircraft weighing services. It’s faster to set up, safer for the aircraft, and produces consistent, repeatable results.
Our EASA and FAA compliant aircraft weighing scales are designed for high precision and easy digital data transfer, allowing a seamless transition into your weight and balance report.
When platform weighing reaches its limits
There are moments when geometry, environment or maintenance state make platform weighing less reliable:
Uneven or unstable landing gear:When one strut has lost pressure or the aircraft does not rest evenly, the load distribution becomes distorted and affects the center of gravity.
Irregular or uneven floors:If the surface is not perfectly flat, such as in field hangars or temporary maintenance sites, small slopes can distort the data. In these cases, jacks can help re-level the aircraft before measuring.
Limited access to wheels:Helicopters with wheel assemblies or drones with compact gear can make it difficult to position platforms correctly.
During maintenance or modification:If wheels, struts or brakes are removed, jack weighing might be the only valid option to produce an accurate result.
Jack weighing: precise but demanding
Jack weighing can be valuable, but only in the right circumstances. It requires highly skilled technicians, proper leveling in both roll and pitch, and full understanding of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) or Weight and Balance Manual (WBM) procedures.
Even the smallest deviation in attitude can lead to measurable CG shifts.Setup time is longer, labor cost is higher, and repeatability is harder to guarantee.
That’s why CH-Aero only performs jack weighing when the manual or aircraft configuration explicitly requires it — for instance, when gear components are removed or when the aircraft cannot be leveled on its own wheels.
A practical decision lens
Consult the AMM or WBM and follow the prescribed method.
Assess the aircraft state – is the gear complete, stable and level?
Evaluate the floor and setup environment.
Balance time, risk and precision.
Document calibration, leveling and method used for full traceability.
This approach keeps every weighing safe, compliant and auditable.
Why CH-Aero prefers platform weighing
For most aircraft types — A320, B737, A350, Challenger 650, helicopters and UAVs — platform weighing offers the ideal combination of accuracy, safety and efficiency. It reduces human error, limits lifting risks and saves valuable time on the ground.
When geometry and manuals allow, on-wheels platform weighing remains the most precise and cost-effective solution.When it doesn’t, our team applies jacking procedures with the same precision and compliance standards that define every CH-Aero service.
Because in aircraft weighing, precision isn’t about doing what looks complex. It’s about doing what is consistent, safe and repeatable.
Interested in improving your weight and balance workflow?Explore our certified on-site weighing solutions and see how CH-Aero can simplify your next inspection.
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