Definition
The forward and aft fuselage stations between which the aircraft's center of gravity must remain in order for the aircraft to be safely controllable throughout all permitted flight conditions. These limits are established by the manufacturer and published in the aircraft's Type Certificate Data Sheet and Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Plain English
The front and back boundaries within which the aircraft's balance point must sit. If the loaded aircraft balances anywhere between these two points, it will handle as designed. If the balance point falls outside either limit, the aircraft may be unsafe to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen in the aircraft’s flight manual or pilot’s operating handbook, and used during preflight loading and weight-and-balance checks.
Derivation
Center comes from an older word meaning a sharp point or middle point. Gravity comes from a Latin word meaning weight. Limit comes from a Latin word meaning boundary. Together, the term points to the allowed boundaries for where the aircraft’s weight may balance.
Why Pilots Care
Operating outside these limits can cause loss of elevator control, instability, or inability to recover from a stall.
Analogy
Think of a playground seesaw. If too much weight is placed too far from the middle, it no longer balances or responds normally. An aircraft also has a safe balance range, not just a single balance point.
Grounding Statement
Moving passengers, fuel, or baggage changes where the aircraft balances, and that balance point must stay inside the approved range.
Intuition Check
Do not think of these limits as suggestions or comfort margins. They are approved loading boundaries: inside the limits is acceptable; outside the limits is not safe or legal for normal operation.
Example Sentence 1
After adding the baggage and rear passengers, the pilot recalculated the loaded weight and confirmed the center of gravity fell within the center of gravity limits.
Example Sentence 2
Loading extra baggage aft pushed the airplane beyond its center of gravity limits and reduced pitch stability.