Final answer:
Loading an airplane with an aft CG can lead to oversteer, reduce the stabilizing effect of the tail, and decrease the effectiveness of the elevator. Pilots must ensure proper loading procedures to maintain safe flight characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Loading an airplane with an aft center of gravity (CG) can lead to several flight control issues. One such issue is a tendency towards oversteering or a higher sensitivity to pitch control inputs. The position of an airplane's CG is critical in determining the aircraft's stability and handling characteristics. An aft CG means that the center of mass is towards the rear of the plane, which might result in the tail-heavy airplane struggling to climb, or in severe cases, causing a stall condition where the wings cannot produce enough lift.
The keywords to consider in this scenario are airplane, aft CG, and handling characteristics. They are essential in understanding the physics behind airplane loading and its impacts on flight safety. Diving deeper into the concept, when the CG moves aft, the stabilizing effect of the tail is reduced, which can make the airplane less stable longitudinally. Furthermore, an aft CG can reduce the effectiveness of the elevator—the control surface on the tail—which makes it more difficult to raise the nose of the airplane during flight operations such as take-off and landing.
While loading the aircraft properly is critical to safety, pilots have procedures and limitations that they follow to ensure the CG is within allowable limits. These include calculating weight and balance before flights, ensuring baggage and cargo are stored correctly, and confirming the number of passengers and their seating arrangements align with safe operational requirements.