Narrative:

This safety report is to document a weight and balance training and compliance concern. Due to company enthusiasm to tanker fuel; I was faced with a situation of directing company operations to offload 610 pounds to reduce to our legal maximum weight for the flight. The company solution was to off load carry-on bags from cargo and bring them inside the aircraft cabin where they would no longer exist on the load manifest. I informed them this was not an authorized procedure. Different individuals made an earnest attempt to inform me that this was an authorized procedure. A young lady identified herself as part of the training department; informed me she trained this procedure; that it was directed and approved by management; etc. A second individual identified himself as management and told me it was a recent change and directed by managers above his level. I told both that I was happy to comply if either could show me the procedure in their company manuals. Neither could. I held my ground; 4 passengers were offered incentives to deplane; and we departed 35 minutes late and continued late the remainder of the day. Between discussions; I referenced the applicable fom and fsm weight and balance sections. I found nothing to support the company position. I found nothing expressly forbidding it; either. I enforced my way based on my prior training and experience. I understand that [company] and FAA rules change- sometimes many times. If I am wrong; I suspect that I am not the only pilot that missed or has forgotten the bulletin authorizing this procedure. I wish; in that case; to apologize to everyone. If I am correct; then we have a very serious compliance problem.rule interpretation and training and inability of all concerned to reference the rule.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported he refused an attempt by ramp personnel to fix an overweight concern by moving carry-on bags from cargo compartment to the cabin.

Narrative: This safety report is to document a weight and balance training and compliance concern. Due to company enthusiasm to tanker fuel; I was faced with a situation of directing company operations to offload 610 pounds to reduce to our legal maximum weight for the flight. The company solution was to off load carry-on bags from cargo and bring them inside the aircraft cabin where they would no longer exist on the load manifest. I informed them this was not an authorized procedure. Different individuals made an earnest attempt to inform me that this was an authorized procedure. A young lady identified herself as part of the training department; informed me she trained this procedure; that it was directed and approved by management; etc. A second individual identified himself as management and told me it was a recent change and directed by managers above his level. I told both that I was happy to comply if either could show me the procedure in their company manuals. Neither could. I held my ground; 4 passengers were offered incentives to deplane; and we departed 35 minutes late and continued late the remainder of the day. Between discussions; I referenced the applicable FOM and FSM weight and balance sections. I found nothing to support the company position. I found nothing expressly forbidding it; either. I enforced my way based on my prior training and experience. I understand that [Company] and FAA rules change- sometimes many times. If I am wrong; I suspect that I am not the only pilot that missed or has forgotten the bulletin authorizing this procedure. I wish; in that case; to apologize to everyone. If I am correct; then we have a very serious compliance problem.Rule interpretation and training and inability of all concerned to reference the rule.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.