Narrative:

We were prepared for pushback and awaiting our weight information over ACARS. Shortly thereafter the jet bridge was repositioned back to the aircraft and 4 more passenger and approximately 15 bags were loaded. The gate agent didn't mention anything about new or revised weight data, so when our weight data came over ACARS (after we had pushed back from the gate) we (cockpit crew) assumed that these passenger and bags were included in our weight data. Also to reassure this assumption, I had to call load control because our weight data did not include a stabilizer trim. Load control did not mention anything concerning revised data. We prepared for a maximum gross takeoff by doing our checklist. As we finished and were ready to taxi into position for takeoff, we received a message over ACARS concerning WX. With no changes to our weight data indicated on ACARS and assuming the information we had was correct, we took off. After takeoff, we were notified by load control that we had taken off approximately 700 pounds over gross weight. The whole situation is indicative of the breakdown in communications associated with automated cockpits. Our taxiout time was at least 10 mins. Both gate and load control knew we were taxiing out. They should have expedited this information to use or at least let us know that revised data would be forthcoming.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT SO CLAIMS LACK OF TIMELY WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA FROM COMPANY DISPATCH LED TO OVER GROSS TKOF.

Narrative: WE WERE PREPARED FOR PUSHBACK AND AWAITING OUR WT INFO OVER ACARS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE JET BRIDGE WAS REPOSITIONED BACK TO THE ACFT AND 4 MORE PAX AND APPROX 15 BAGS WERE LOADED. THE GATE AGENT DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT NEW OR REVISED WT DATA, SO WHEN OUR WT DATA CAME OVER ACARS (AFTER WE HAD PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE) WE (COCKPIT CREW) ASSUMED THAT THESE PAX AND BAGS WERE INCLUDED IN OUR WT DATA. ALSO TO REASSURE THIS ASSUMPTION, I HAD TO CALL LOAD CTL BECAUSE OUR WT DATA DID NOT INCLUDE A STABILIZER TRIM. LOAD CTL DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING CONCERNING REVISED DATA. WE PREPARED FOR A MAX GROSS TKOF BY DOING OUR CHKLIST. AS WE FINISHED AND WERE READY TO TAXI INTO POS FOR TKOF, WE RECEIVED A MESSAGE OVER ACARS CONCERNING WX. WITH NO CHANGES TO OUR WT DATA INDICATED ON ACARS AND ASSUMING THE INFO WE HAD WAS CORRECT, WE TOOK OFF. AFTER TKOF, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY LOAD CTL THAT WE HAD TAKEN OFF APPROX 700 LBS OVER GROSS WT. THE WHOLE SITUATION IS INDICATIVE OF THE BREAKDOWN IN COMS ASSOCIATED WITH AUTOMATED COCKPITS. OUR TAXIOUT TIME WAS AT LEAST 10 MINS. BOTH GATE AND LOAD CTL KNEW WE WERE TAXIING OUT. THEY SHOULD HAVE EXPEDITED THIS INFO TO USE OR AT LEAST LET US KNOW THAT REVISED DATA WOULD BE FORTHCOMING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.