Just a little question about real world 744 procedures.While doing their preflight operations, when do the pilotsa actually receive their ZFW from the ramp agent?Thx in advance

My impression is that they are given an estimate on their dispatch sheet to be used for planning based on number seats sold on that flight, cargo, etc and then given the final numbers after everything has been loaded. If the actual values differ too much from the estimate, they have to recalculate. -Lee Barberhttp://home.nc.rr.com/uniuniunium/dvasig.jpg

You`ll get an estimated zfw on the flight plan,then once the flight closes the final load figures are passed from the check in staff to CLP(central load planning)which in our case is actually in Bangkok !This is then sent via ACARS to the flight deck, we then alter the fuel load acordingly if there is significant change and send our fuel burn figures back to bangkok,who then process and send a loadsheet,again via ACARS.2 copies are checked and signed by the captain and one given to the ground personel who can make any LMCs(last minute changes), the other remains onboard for the flight.cheersjon

We get a quite accurate estimated ZFW on our OFP which is usually in the range of 1 or 2 tons of our later received actual. Then we get a final loadsheet within the last 7 minutes prior to off block via ACARS which we then use to make our exact t/o data calculation.