SAWE Recommended Practices https://www.sawe.org Society of Allied Weight Engineers, Inc. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:24:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 231197347 SAWE RP O-1, 2025: Offshore Terminology https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-o-1-2025-offshore-terminology/ Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:58:33 +0000 https://www.sawe.org/?post_type=product&p=8998 Scope   At the onset of each project, a similar, weight management specific, definitions document should be issued to clarify weight management terminology to be used on that project. Efforts should be made to utilize SAWE standard definitions. However, this project specific document may take into consideration specific terminology used in client specifications and terms common to governing bodies with jurisdiction. Where there is conflict between SAWE recommended terminology and client terminology, work with the client to come to a consensus on what definitions will be used. The agreed upon definition shall be recorded in the Weight Management Definitions document prior to it being issued for project use.   Purpose   To ensure consistency across all weight management documents, a centralized Weight Management Definitions document has been created. This document starts with weight management terms as defined in ISO 19901-5: 2003. Additional terms commonly used for weight management but not defined by ISO are also defined herein and, to the extent possible, have been defined per their most common industry usage.      ]]> Scope   At the onset of each project, a similar, weight management specific, definitions document should be issued to clarify weight management terminology to be used on that project. Efforts should be made to utilize SAWE standard definitions. However, this project specific document may take into consideration specific terminology used in client specifications and terms common to governing bodies with jurisdiction. Where there is conflict between SAWE recommended terminology and client terminology, work with the client to come to a consensus on what definitions will be used. The agreed upon definition shall be recorded in the Weight Management Definitions document prior to it being issued for project use.   Purpose   To ensure consistency across all weight management documents, a centralized Weight Management Definitions document has been created. This document starts with weight management terms as defined in ISO 19901-5: 2003. Additional terms commonly used for weight management but not defined by ISO are also defined herein and, to the extent possible, have been defined per their most common industry usage.      ]]> 8998 SAWE RP A-14, 2024: Mass Properties Definitions for Aircraft https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-a-14-2024-mass-prop-definitions-for-aircraft/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:12:21 +0000 https://www.sawe.org/?post_type=product&p=7457
This document provides a list of Mass Properties terms and definitions that are recommended for use with aircraft. Definitions were reviewed from multiple documents and a single definition will be used moving forward for consistency on common weight terms used by the US Government and Industry.
Questions regarding this document may be made by e-mail to: standards@sawe.org  
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This document provides a list of Mass Properties terms and definitions that are recommended for use with aircraft. Definitions were reviewed from multiple documents and a single definition will be used moving forward for consistency on common weight terms used by the US Government and Industry.
Questions regarding this document may be made by e-mail to: standards@sawe.org  
 ]]> 7457 SAWE RP A-7, 2023: Management and Control for Military Aircraft https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-a-7-2023/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 18:05:18 +0000 https://www.sawe.org/?post_type=product&p=6602
This document provides the means for establishing a system of mass properties management and control during the acquisition phases (pre-concept, concept exploration, demonstration/validation, engineering & manufacturing development, production & deployment, operation & support, major modification) of heavier-than-air aircraft programs. It contains a set of recommended practices from which selection may be made or tailored to satisfy the discrete requirements of each program.
The contractor shall develop achievable mass properties objectives and assist the customer (government) in specifying Performance Specification mass properties requirements. During the initial development of, or any subsequent change to, mass properties objectives, the contractor shall give particular attention to substantiating data, mass properties dependent design information and the mass properties uncertainties and consequences. Throughout the contract life cycle, the contractor shall maintain cognizance of the vehicle mass properties limits whether established by contract, system performance or by subsystem design. The compatibility of total system mass properties requirements with configuration requirements shall be assessed to assure that program objectives can be met.
Notes:
This document is also applicable to Uninhabited Air Vehicles (UAVs) which are re-usable and/or re-configurable in the field. For UAVs that are not re-usable and not re-configurable in the field, see Recommended Practice No. 9, Weight and Balance Control System for Guided Missiles. Questions regarding this document may be made by e-mail to: standards@sawe.org  
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This document provides the means for establishing a system of mass properties management and control during the acquisition phases (pre-concept, concept exploration, demonstration/validation, engineering & manufacturing development, production & deployment, operation & support, major modification) of heavier-than-air aircraft programs. It contains a set of recommended practices from which selection may be made or tailored to satisfy the discrete requirements of each program.
The contractor shall develop achievable mass properties objectives and assist the customer (government) in specifying Performance Specification mass properties requirements. During the initial development of, or any subsequent change to, mass properties objectives, the contractor shall give particular attention to substantiating data, mass properties dependent design information and the mass properties uncertainties and consequences. Throughout the contract life cycle, the contractor shall maintain cognizance of the vehicle mass properties limits whether established by contract, system performance or by subsystem design. The compatibility of total system mass properties requirements with configuration requirements shall be assessed to assure that program objectives can be met.
Notes:
This document is also applicable to Uninhabited Air Vehicles (UAVs) which are re-usable and/or re-configurable in the field. For UAVs that are not re-usable and not re-configurable in the field, see Recommended Practice No. 9, Weight and Balance Control System for Guided Missiles. Questions regarding this document may be made by e-mail to: standards@sawe.org  
 ]]> 6602 SAWE RP O-2, 2024: Coordinate Reference System for Offshore Systems https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-o-2-2024-coordinate-reference-system-for-offshore-systems/ Sun, 18 Feb 2024 15:21:37 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5782 Scope The scope of this Recommended Practice is to establish acceptable three-dimensional center of gravity coordinate reference systems for offshore facilities. Each coordinate system will include a defined origin, specified axes of rotation, and a sign convention to establish uniformity in weight property data collection and reporting. The use of a standard coordinate system will minimize the possibility of error due to differences in coordinate systems used by suppliers, designers, builders, regulatory bodies, or owners. These coordinate systems will be used in the determination of centers-of-gravity. They will also be used to determine mass moments of inertia as they relate to the three rotational degrees of freedom: roll, pitch, and yaw for floating structures.

Purpose

A shared or common set of coordinate system will make data transfer between different weight engineering groups on a program or project simpler.  A common center of gravity system should be employed by designers and fabricators of the facility.  ]]> Scope The scope of this Recommended Practice is to establish acceptable three-dimensional center of gravity coordinate reference systems for offshore facilities. Each coordinate system will include a defined origin, specified axes of rotation, and a sign convention to establish uniformity in weight property data collection and reporting. The use of a standard coordinate system will minimize the possibility of error due to differences in coordinate systems used by suppliers, designers, builders, regulatory bodies, or owners. These coordinate systems will be used in the determination of centers-of-gravity. They will also be used to determine mass moments of inertia as they relate to the three rotational degrees of freedom: roll, pitch, and yaw for floating structures.

Purpose

A shared or common set of coordinate system will make data transfer between different weight engineering groups on a program or project simpler.  A common center of gravity system should be employed by designers and fabricators of the facility.  ]]> 5782 SAWE RP A-4, 2024: Survey Methods for Establishment of Passenger, Bag and Carry-On Weights https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-a-4-2024-survey-methods-for-establishment-of-passenger-bag-and-carry-on-weights/ Sat, 03 Feb 2024 17:41:35 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5781 5781 SAWE RP-11, 2004: Mass Properties Control for Space Vehicles https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-11-2004/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:11:30 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5747 Superseded by SAWE RP A-3, 2016: Mass Properties Control for Space Systems This recommended practice is provided by the SAWE as a guideline for managing, monitoring, controlling, verifying, and reporting mass properties of space vehicles, upper stage vehicles, injection stages, satellite payloads, launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles, and exo-atmospheric missiles. This recommended practice is based on previous Revision B of this document, supplemented by AIAA-S-120-2006, which was developed using consensus agreement of industry subject matter experts. Beneficial comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions), and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this document should be submitted to the above address. This recommended practice establishes uniform procedures for the control, monitoring, determination, verification, and documentation of mass properties of space vehicles and their subsystems and components. This document is an amalgam of several standards and handbooks, attempting to capture best practices in both government and commercial arenas. As such, it contains some sections that are applicable primarily to United States Government space vehicle development and acquisition programs. Other sections are more general in nature, describing terminology, processes, and procedures that are generally accepted in the industry, and reflect sound mass properties engineering practices in the development and production of space vehicles.    ]]> Superseded by SAWE RP A-3, 2016: Mass Properties Control for Space Systems This recommended practice is provided by the SAWE as a guideline for managing, monitoring, controlling, verifying, and reporting mass properties of space vehicles, upper stage vehicles, injection stages, satellite payloads, launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles, and exo-atmospheric missiles. This recommended practice is based on previous Revision B of this document, supplemented by AIAA-S-120-2006, which was developed using consensus agreement of industry subject matter experts. Beneficial comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions), and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this document should be submitted to the above address. This recommended practice establishes uniform procedures for the control, monitoring, determination, verification, and documentation of mass properties of space vehicles and their subsystems and components. This document is an amalgam of several standards and handbooks, attempting to capture best practices in both government and commercial arenas. As such, it contains some sections that are applicable primarily to United States Government space vehicle development and acquisition programs. Other sections are more general in nature, describing terminology, processes, and procedures that are generally accepted in the industry, and reflect sound mass properties engineering practices in the development and production of space vehicles.    ]]> 5747 SAWE RP-10, 1997: Weight and Balance Data Reporting Forms for Guided Missiles and Space Launch Vehicles https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-10-1997/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:11:28 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5743 5743 SAWE RP-2, 1995: Guidelines for Mass Properties Control on International Space & Missile Systems https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-2-1995/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:11:15 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5740 5740 SAWE RP-9, 2000: Weight and Balance Control for Guided Missiles https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-9-2000/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:11:15 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5742 5742 SAWE RP M-2, 2009: Standard Coordinate System for Reporting Mass Properties of Marine Vehicles https://www.sawe.org/product/sawe-rp-m-2-2009/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 03:11:13 +0000 https://www.sawe.org//?post_type=product&p=5736 5736