Dispatch Dispatcher
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Gate
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors
Flight is a military charter. Ride along agent called to give me estimated cargo numbers; which includes 711 bags at 70 lbs each. I entered the planned numbers in the computer; and advised the agent that we had a max of 15;000 lbs rear. Would like to have at least 10000 lbs aft; with the balance forward. I also asked him for a passenger count and weight. At this time all he had was the passenger count and advised me; 'They look like about 200 lbs each.' I told him that I would show this as a plan; but would need the exact numbers. Sometime later; the agent called back with the pallet weights. I advised the agent to hold on because the weights he gave me well exceed the max numbers I gave him for the rear to the amount of 27145 lbs vs the 15000 lbs max I gave. Once I entered the numbers; I advised him I still needed the passenger weights. I also advised him that we were good with the count. A few minutes later the airport agent called to advise we only has 4500 lbs; plus the PS aft. I advised him that the agent had already called in numbers and that they didn't match what he had given me. He said to hold on and he would call me back. The station agent called back to advise me that yes; there was only 4500 lbs of military aft; I told him that means we are about 19000 lbs shy of the total cargo weight. He then told me to show 9054 lbs on each pallet forward. I asked multiple times; are you sure; uncomfortable with this. I entered the numbers; which meant we are now nose heavy. While I was working on this; and came up with the solution of moving a pallet aft from front; I noticed that the flight showed off the blocks. I verified this with the station agent; and he said yes they were taxing. I advised him to hold on and let me see if I can balance the flight. The only way now to balance the airplane was to move all passenger from business to coach as well as blocking 2 rows. I advised station agent and he said to go ahead and do that; he would let the flight attendants know. At no time were the weights final before the airplane pushed back; which I thought that was procedure with the ride along. I sent copies of the computer record as well as messages to the cockpit and advised the station agent to verify. I received no confirmation of this at all either from the station agent or on board agent. I also am uncomfortable with the fact that the weights on the pallets mysteriously went up 4500 lbs each to make up for the missing weights; that's a lot of bags on a pallet! The flight returned to the gate since the Captain did not want to move all the troops out of business; to move 2 pallets front to aft.
A military charter departing a foreign station with a ride along agent to report aircraft status; repeatedly relayed incorrect weight and balance cargo loads. After departing the gate the aircraft returned to move pallets because the station agent reported the correct numbers which put the aircraft out of CG limits.