Weight and Balance  Chapter 10  Introduction  Weight Control  Compliance with the weight and balance limits of any aircraft  is critical to flight safety. Operating above the maximum  weight limitation compromises the structural integrity of  an aircraft and adversely affects its performance. Operation  with the center of gravity (CG) outside the approved limits  results in control difficulty.  As discussed in Chapter 5, Aerodynamics of Flight, weight  is the force with which gravity attracts a body toward the  center of the Earth. It is a product of the mass of a body and  the acceleration acting on the body. Weight is a major factor  in aircraft construction and operation and demands respect  from all pilots.  The force of gravity continuously attempts to pull an aircraft  down toward Earth. The force of lift is the only force that  counteracts weight and sustains an aircraft in flight. The  amount of lift produced by an airfoil is limited by the airfoil  design, angle of attack (AOA), airspeed, and air density. To  assure that the lift generated is sufficient to counteract weight,  loading an aircraft beyond the manufacturer’s recommended  weight must be avoided. If the weight is greater than the lift  generated, the aircraft may be incapable of flight. 