EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
While boarding the flight we were waiting for the bag count. Approximately 10 minutes before our scheduled out-time a ramper came up with the paperwork. Just as he stepped inside another ramper yelled up; saying that they were waiting for about 20 connecting bags so we needed to wait a few minutes as they were on the way. After a few minutes the bags arrived and we received the CLR and completed our Weight and Balance and proceeded as normal. The CLR was showing 42 standard checked bags and 12 gate claim/planeside. Our center of gravity was calculated at 16.2 with a pitch trim of 8 with our passenger and bag loading.We taxied out uneventfully and proceeded to the runway. At rotation speed the aircraft seemed extremely tail heavy. I was the flying pilot and had to put almost double the forward yoke pressure that is normally required and started trimming downward to correct. The initial trim setting around 160 KTS on climb out usually ends up being around 5 or near the bottom of the green zone on the trim meter for elevator trim. This time after I was done it was around 2 or 3. We climbed out and the trim was 0 to -1 for the entire flight and we landed without event. On the flare the aircraft also felt it was very tail heavy. I communicated in flight with my First Officer that I will have the rampers recount the bags when they are pulled from the plane. We landed and the rampers counted all the bags for me. The total bag count was correct; however the ramper counting stated that there were about 10 or 12 heavy bags that were not marked as heavy bags. I know all aircraft fly differently and loading is sometimes more tail heavy then not. I wouldn't write this report if I thought it was just a slight miscalculation on loading. I think that there was an error on someone in a hurry to get the bags out that didn't bother to weigh them and/or tag them correctly and they were loaded onto our plane. The aircraft was not dangerous to fly and I did not feel like we were in danger at any time; however the loading was such that the aircraft acted completely unexpectedly on rotation. The ramp personnel need to be more diligent in having accurate paperwork. The whole operation of the 'horse-shoe' in Jxxx is usually a total confusion for the passengers; and the rampers are overloaded with work when many aircraft are due in or out around the same time. I feel that not only are the rampers overworked in that area but the design of the horse-shoe leads to errors with the concentration of multiple flights and passengers boarding different planes at the same time.
The Captain of an ERJ noticed during the take-off rotation and climb that the aircraft seemed tail heavy; and trim settings throughout the flight and landing appeared to be indicative of a tail-heavy aircraft.