Which of the following best describes how permanent ballast is used?

• A. It is weight permanently installed to bring the empty weight CG into allowable limits.
• B. It is used to adjust the fuel quantity.
• C. It is used only during calibrations.
• D. It is removed after every flight.

Answer: (A)

Center of gravity placement is the key idea here. Permanent ballast is fixed weight built into the aircraft to position the empty-weight center of gravity within the approved limits. This stays in place across flights, ensuring the airplane remains controllable and stable with the typical configuration of installed equipment and structure. It isn’t used to adjust fuel quantity or for calibrations, and it isn’t removed after every flight. The ballast serves to bring the empty-weight CG into the allowable range so that, as payload and fuel are added or consumed, the CG stays within the certified envelope and the airplane handles predictably.