How Do You Balance a SeeSaw?
In the lab: “In order for the seesaw to be balanced, the torque must be equal on each side of the pivot point. Use the equation for torque in this equation. The force of each object will be equal to the force of gravity. Gravity can be canceled from each side of the equation.”
On a college football charter flight: You let the linemen deplane before offloading the cargo.
Remember when you were a kid on the seesaw, and your friend would suddenly jump off? Same theory here.
Scenes like this are fun to look at… or point and laugh if you root for a rival team (Go Ducks!).
They’re also easily avoidable.
There are a LOT of procedures in place when ground handling a 737. Together they provide layers of safety that make flying seem routine. They’re also easy to overlook—or forget to tell a station that doesn’t normally service this aircraft type.
Complacency is particularly pernicious. Left unchecked, little things add up to big problems.
###
P.S. The way to get the plane back down? Have the people still onboard slowly walk towards the front of the cabin.