Definition
The forward and aft boundaries within which the airplane's center of gravity must remain for safe flight. These limits are published by the manufacturer for each airplane and define the allowable range of loading. Operating outside CG limits compromises stability, controllability, and structural safety margins.
Plain English
The front-most and rear-most points where the airplane's balance point is allowed to be. As long as the airplane's balance point sits between these two points, it will handle the way the manufacturer designed it to.
Context Anchor
Used during weight-and-balance planning before flight, especially when loading fuel, passengers, bags, or cargo.
Derivation
CG stands for center of gravity. “Center” points to the middle or balance point, and “gravity” refers to weight pulling downward. “Limits” means the allowed boundaries, so CG limits are the allowed boundaries for the airplane’s balance point.
Why Pilots Care
Operating outside these limits can make the airplane unstable or impossible to control, especially in pitch.
Analogy
Think of balancing a loaded tray. The total weight matters, but where the weight sits matters too. CG limits are like the safe zone where the tray can balance without tipping or becoming hard to control.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the airplane is safe just because it is under its maximum weight. An airplane can be light enough overall and still be outside CG limits because the weight is placed too far forward or too far back.
Example Sentence 1
After adding two passengers in the back seat and bags in the rear compartment, the pilot recalculated and confirmed the loaded CG was still within the aft CG limit.
Example Sentence 2
An aft CG beyond published limits made pitch control very sensitive.