I was having a chat with an FBO flight instructor yesterday about a
potential student of his who is 6' 4" and pushing 300lbs. As an independent
instructor and big guy myself, he was soliciting my opinion on what which
training aircraft might be appropriate for this student.

I mentioned that a 172 should work provided W&B calculations be conducted to
ensure the aircraft CG isn't too far forward. Then the instructor mentioned
something I'd never heard befo "No, that won't work. The limit of the
Pilot and Co Pilot seats is 400lbs."

"Huh?" I replied.

"Yeah, its a limitation." He reasoned as he showed me the POH W&B graph.
The line to calculate moment stops at 400lbs. His argument was that Cessna
deliberately stops the line at 400, because that is a limit. He stated that
it was FBO policy to abide by this "limitation."

I responded that "Limits" are in the Limitations section, Chapter 2. There
*is* a limitation in the baggage sections, but no such limit in the pilot
seats. If Cessna wanted to institute a pilot station limitation, they would
have explicitly stated it in Chapter 2. I further suggested that if he
didn't want to take my word, he could contact Cessna.

I've never heard this before. Has anyone else? Otherwise, I've broken the
rules on nearly every flight with a passenger or student more than 140lbs

Brad