On 2008-03-28, Jim Logajan wrote:
The poster said these were ATC transmissions, not internal company
communications. Since ATC doesn't concern itself with weight, balance,
or any other flight performance factors, your explanation is almost
certainly wrong.

You haven't had an airline flight pause on the taxiway waiting for this
information? I have, as recently as last week.

ATC would indeed care if the aircraft wasn't ready to go yet because it
couldn't legally depart. For them to ask if the crew had "their numbers" yet
(note, not "the numbers") would make sense if, for example, they were going
to hold off obtaining IFR release from Departure until the flight was ready,
and the crew had advised them they weren't because they hadn't gotten that
information.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
Fairmont, MN (FRM) (Yes, that's me!)
AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC (ordered 17 March, delivery 2 June)