Narrative:

We received our final weights late; as usual. Upon completion of the before takeoff checklist and notification of ATC that we were finally ready; we received a position and hold clearance. After approximately 30 in position we received an ACARS to move five passenger forward. A B737 had just taken off and we were waiting for departure separation for takeoff clearance. The first officer was reading the ACARS message while the takeoff clearance was being issued. We nearly departed in an out of cg condition. This is unsafe and unacceptable. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the airplane was receiving the takeoff clearance and was just moments from starting the takeoff roll when they were alerted by ACARS. First officer handled the ACARS message to move 5 passenger forward to correct a center of gravity problem. They advised the controller that they had to turn off the runway to move the passenger. Reporter stated; 'we came close to taking off out of center of gravity limits.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 RECEIVED LOAD CLOSEOUT REVISION WHILE TAKEOFF CLRNC WAS BEING ISSUED. FLT CREW CLEARED RWY AND COMPLIED WITH ACARS MESSAGE TO MOVE 5 PAX FORWARD IN ORDER TO MEET CG LIMITS.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED OUR FINAL WEIGHTS LATE; AS USUAL. UPON COMPLETION OF THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHKLIST AND NOTIFICATION OF ATC THAT WE WERE FINALLY READY; WE RECEIVED A POS AND HOLD CLRNC. AFTER APPROX 30 IN POS WE RECEIVED AN ACARS TO MOVE FIVE PAX FORWARD. A B737 HAD JUST TAKEN OFF AND WE WERE WAITING FOR DEP SEPARATION FOR TAKEOFF CLRNC. THE FO WAS READING THE ACARS MESSAGE WHILE THE TAKEOFF CLRNC WAS BEING ISSUED. WE NEARLY DEPARTED IN AN OUT OF CG CONDITION. THIS IS UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS RECEIVING THE TAKEOFF CLRNC AND WAS JUST MOMENTS FROM STARTING THE TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THEY WERE ALERTED BY ACARS. FO HANDLED THE ACARS MESSAGE TO MOVE 5 PAX FORWARD TO CORRECT A CENTER OF GRAVITY PROB. THEY ADVISED THE CTLR THAT THEY HAD TO TURN OFF THE RWY TO MOVE THE PAX. RPTR STATED; 'WE CAME CLOSE TO TAKING OFF OUT OF CTR OF GRAVITY LIMITS.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.