What information is needed to calculate an aircraft's moment?

To calculate an aircraft's moment, it is essential to understand that a moment is derived from the product of an object's weight and its distance from a specific reference point known as the datum. The moment is typically expressed in units such as pound-inches, which represent the influence of weight on balance and stability in relation to the datum.

Therefore, the two critical pieces of information required for this calculation are the weight of the aircraft or its components and their specific distances from the datum. This information allows for the determination of how weight is distributed throughout the aircraft, which is crucial for maintaining proper balance during flight operations.

The other options do not provide the complete or appropriate information needed for calculating moments. For instance, relying solely on fuel consumption rate does not relate directly to the physical distribution of weight concerning the datum. Similarly, considering only the total weight or fuel load, without their respective positions from the datum, would lead to incomplete data, rendering an accurate moment calculation impossible.