Are infants considered in their parents' standard mass?

Infants are generally included in their parents' standard mass calculation unless they occupy their own seat. This approach is standard in aviation because when an infant is seated on a parent's lap during flight, their weight is considered negligible in relation to the adult's mass. However, when infants are given their own seats, airlines typically require them to be accounted for separately as they have a defined weight, thus affecting the overall calculations for takeoff and landing performance.

In cases where an infant occupies their own seat, a separate calculation of their weight is necessary for safety and weight distribution purposes. Therefore, infant weight is accounted for differently based on whether they are secured in a lap or in their own designated seat. This is why recognizing the occupancy status of the infant is crucial for the correct determination of standard mass.