How does center of gravity location affect takeoff and landing performance in a narrowbody?

• A. CG location influences stability and elevator effectiveness; outside limits can increase stall risk and require different speeds or configurations.
• B. CG location has no impact on performance.
• C. CG only affects color of smoke.
• D. CG location affects fuel type.

Answer: (A)

Center of gravity location directly changes how the airplane behaves in pitch and how much elevator authority you have to control it. A forward CG makes the aircraft more pitch-stable, meaning it tends to hold a nose-down tendency and you must push the nose up with more elevator to rotate on takeoff or to flare on landing. That effect reduces how effectively the elevator can change pitch quickly, and it often alters the speeds and configurations you need to safely take off and land. If the CG is outside the approved limits, these margins shrink and you can encounter higher stall risk or less predictable handling, so you may need different rotation speeds, approach speeds, and flap/gear configurations to stay within safe performance envelopes.