Load Sheet
An official document prepared by the load controller that records the distribution of passengers, baggage, cargo, and fuel on an aircraft to confirm weight and balance compliance.
Full Definition
The load sheet is a legally required document for every commercial flight, summarising the final distribution of payload (passengers, baggage, and cargo) and fuel across the aircraft to confirm that the aircraft is within its certified weight and balance (centre of gravity) limits. The load sheet is prepared by the load controller (also called a loadmaster at cargo operators) and must be signed and accepted by the captain before departure. Editors should hyphenate 'load sheet' as two separate words (not 'loadsheet') in most house styles, though 'loadsheet' as one word appears in some airline proprietary systems. The load sheet must not be confused with the 'load plan,' which is the preliminary document used to plan cargo and baggage placement.
Usage
Usage note: Prefer two-word form 'load sheet' in editorial documents unless house style mandates 'loadsheet.' Distinguish from the 'load plan' (preliminary) and 'manifest' (passenger/cargo list).
In Context
- "The captain refused departure until the discrepancy on the load sheet had been corrected by the load controller." — Departure irregularity report
- "A final load sheet must be issued no later than 15 minutes before scheduled departure." — Ground handling procedures manual