Due to the growing problem of obesity in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is concerned that existing weight and balance standards may be outdated, putting aircraft at risk of overloading, so airline passengers may be weighed before boarding in the United States.
The FAA has issued a notice to airlines regarding new aircraft weight and balance standards before 2019, and with the public consultation period ending last spring, the FAA will likely take action to implement the new standards, but the exact timing of implementation is still unknown. On the day of the survey, at least 15 percent of passengers will be surveyed, or include weighing passengers at the gate. However, the FAA emphasizes that weight surveys are voluntary and that passengers have the right not to participate; and when a passenger refuses, the airline should select the next passenger based on its random approach rather than requiring the next passenger in the queue to be weighed. Passenger weight data will also be kept confidential.
In addition, the report also said that the FAA will implement new guidelines, the average weight of adult passengers with carry-on luggage in summer from 170 pounds to 190 pounds, in winter from 175 pounds to 195 pounds, an increase of about 12%; distinguished by gender, the average weight of women with carry-on luggage in the summer under the new standard is 179 pounds, 184 pounds in winter; while the average male summer 200 pounds in summer and 205 pounds in winter.
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