Unit load device

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File:Unloading JAL 747.jpg
Unloading LD3 containers from a Boeing 747

A unit load device (ULD) is a container used to load luggage, freight, and mail on wide-body aircraft and specific narrow-body aircraft. It allows preloading of cargo, provided the containerised load fits in the aircraft, enabling efficient planning of aircraft weight and balance and reduced labour and time in loading aircraft holds compared with 'bulk-loading' single items of cargo or luggage by hand. Each ULD has its own packing list or manifest so that its contents can be tracked. A loaded aircraft cargo pallet secured with a cargo net also forms a ULD, but its load must be gauged for size in addition to being weighed to ensure aircraft door and hold clearances.

The IATA publishes ULD regulations and notes there are 900,000 in service worth more than US$1 billion, averaging $1100 each.[1]

Types

ULDs come in two forms: pallets and containers. ULD pallets are rugged sheets of aluminium with rims designed to lock onto cargo net lugs. ULD containers, also known as cans and pods, are closed containers often made of aluminium or a combination of aluminium (frame) and Lexan (walls) but there are examples of containers made of GRP with an insulating foam core. Depending on the nature of the goods to be transported, ULDs may have built-in refrigeration units. Examples of common ULDs and their specifics are listed below.

Lower hold containers[2] volume in cu.ft (m3), dimensions in inches (cm)
Type Internal
volume 		Height Depth Width Contour IATA Suitability
Base Overall Nominal
LD3-45[3] Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Full Double AKH Airbus A319/Airbus A320/Airbus A321
LD2 Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Half Single APE Boeing widebodies
LD3 Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt AKE Airbus and Boeing widebodies, DC-10/MD-11, L-1011
LD1 Template:Cvt Template:Cvt AKC Boeing widebodies, MD-11
LD4 Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Full None AQP Boeing 767/777/787
LD8 (2×LD2) Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Double AQF Boeing 767/787
LD11 Template:Cvt Template:Cvt None ALP Boeing 747, 777, 787, DC-10/MD-11
PLA palletTemplate:Efn Template:Cvt PLA 747, 777, 787
LD6 (2×LD3) Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Double ALF 747/777/787, DC-10/MD-11
LD26 (P1P base) Template:Cvt Template:Cvt AAF Airbus A330, A340, A350, and Boeing 747/777/787, DC-10/MD-11
LD7 winged palletTemplate:Efn Template:Cvt P1P 747, 777, 787, DC-10/MD-11
LD7/P1P palletTemplate:Efn Template:Cvt Template:Cvt None P1P All widebodies
LD9 (P1P base) Template:Cvt AAP Boeing widebodies, DC-10/MD-11
LD29 (P1P base) Template:Cvt Template:Cvt Double AAU 747
LD39 (P6P base) Template:Cvt Template:Cvt AMU 747
P6P palletTemplate:Efn Template:CvtTemplate:Efn Template:Cvt None P6P 747, 767, 777, 787, DC-10, MD-11
Notes

Template:Notelist

File:Unit load device sizes.png
Unit load device sizes

Aircraft compatibility

File:Airbus A300 cross section.jpg
Cross-section of an Airbus A300 showing LD3 containers

LD3s, LD6s, and LD11s will fit 787s, 777s, 747s, MD-11s, Il-86s, Il-96s, L-1011s and all Airbus wide-bodies. The 767 uses the smaller LD2s and LD8s because of its narrower fuselage. The less common LD1 is designed specifically for the 747, but LD3s are more commonly used in its place because of ubiquity (they have the same floor dimensions such that one LD3 takes the place of one LD1). LD3s with reduced height (Template:Convert instead of Template:Convert) can also be loaded on the Airbus A320 family. LD7 pallets will fit 787s, 777s, 747s, late model 767s (with larger doors), and Airbus wide-bodies.

Interchangeability of certain ULDs between LD3/6/11 aircraft and LD2/8 aircraft is possible when cargo needs to be quickly transferred to a connecting flight. Both LD2s and LD8s can be loaded in LD3/6/11 aircraft, but at the cost of using internal volume inefficiently (33 ft3 wasted per LD2). Only the LD3 of the LD3/6/11 family of ULDs can be loaded in a 767; it will occupy an entire row where two LD2s or one LD8 would otherwise have fit (90 ft3 wasted per LD3). Policies vary from airline to airline as to whether such transfers are allowed.

The 787, intended to replace the 767, was designed to use the LD3/6/11 family of ULDs to solve the wasted volume issue.[4]

ULD capacity

Widebodies
Model Lower deck Main deck
Containers 88×125″ 96×125″ 96×125″ 88×125″ 88x108″
Airbus A300-600[5] 22 LD3 4 + 10 LD3 4 + 10 LD3 20 21[6]
Airbus A310[7] 15 LD3 3 + 7 LD3 3 + 7 LD3 15 16[6]
Airbus A330-2/800[8] 26 LD3 8 8 22 23 26
Airbus A330-3/900[8] 32 LD3 11 10 26 26[9]
Airbus A340-200[10] 26 LD3 9 9
Airbus A340-300[10] 32 LD3 11 10
Airbus A340-500[11] 30 LD3 10 10
Airbus A340-600[11] 42 LD3 14 14
Airbus A350-900[12] 36 LD3 11 11
Airbus A350F[13] 40 LD3 12 30
Airbus A350-1000[12] 44 LD3 14 14
Airbus A380-800[14] 38 LD3 13 13
Boeing 747 classic[15] 30 LD1 28 28 36
Boeing 747SP[15] 20 LD1
Boeing 747-400[16] 32 LD1 9 + 4 LD1 9 + 2 LD1 30 30
Boeing 747-8/8F[17] 40 LD1 12 + 2 LD1 34
Boeing 767-200[18] 22 LD2 3 + 10 LD2 3 + 10 LD2
Boeing 767-300[18] 30 LD2 4 + 14 LD2 4 + 14 LD2 14 16 26
Boeing 767-400[18] 38 LD2 5 + 16 LD2
Boeing 777-200[19] 32 LD3 10 + 2 LD3 10 27
Boeing 777-300[19] 44 LD3 14 + 2LD3 14 33[20]
Boeing 777-8F[21] 40 LD3[22] 13 31
Boeing 777-9[23] 48 LD3 16 14 + 4 LD3
Boeing 787-8[24] 28 LD3 9 8 + 2 LD3
Boeing 787-9[24] 36 LD3 11 11
Boeing 787-10[24] 40 LD3 13 13
Douglas DC-10[25] 26 LD3 5 + 8 LD3 22 30
McDonnell Douglas MD-11[26] 32 LD3 6 + 14 LD3 26 26 34
Lockheed L-1011[27] 19 LD3 4 + 7 LD3
Ilyushin Il-86/Il-96-300[28] 16 LD3
Ilyushin Il-96M/T[29] 32 LD3
Narrowbodies
Model Containers 96×125″ 88×125″ 88x108″
Airbus A319[30] 4 LD3-45
Airbus A320[31] 7 LD3-45 11[32]
Airbus A321[33] 10 LD3-45 14[32]
Boeing 707-320C[34] no lower ULD 13 13
Boeing 727-100C[35] no lower ULDTemplate:Efn 8 8
Boeing 737-200C[36] no lower ULD 7 7
Boeing 737-300SF[37] no lower ULD 9
Boeing 737-400SF[38] no lower ULD 10 ½
Boeing 737-700C[36] no lower ULD 8 8
Boeing 737-800SF[39] no lower ULD 11 ½
Boeing 757-200F[40] no lower ULD 15
Comac C919[41] 7 LD3-46[42]
Douglas DC-8-55F[43] no lower ULD 13
Douglas DC-8-62/72F[43] no lower ULD 14
Douglas DC-8-61/63/71/73F[43] no lower ULD 18
Douglas DC-9-15F[44] no lower ULD 6
Douglas DC-9-32F[44] no lower ULD 8
McDonnell Douglas MD-80SF[45] no lower ULD 8 8 12

Template:Notelist

File:Loading LD3 cargo containers onto United Boeing 777-300ER.webm
LD3 containers being loaded onto a Boeing 777-300ER.

Aircraft loads can consist of containers, pallets, or a mix of ULD types, depending on requirements. In some aircraft the two types must be mixed as some compartments take only specific ULDs.

Container capacity of an aircraft is measured in positions. Each half-width container (LD1/LD2/LD3) in the aircraft it was designed for occupies one position. Typically, each row in a cargo compartment consists of two positions. Therefore, a full-width container (LD6/LD8/LD11) will take two positions. An LD6 or an LD11 can occupy the space of two LD3s. An LD8 takes the space of two LD2s.

Aircraft pallet capacity is measured by how many PMC-type LD7s Template:Cvt can be stored. These pallets occupy approximately three LD3 positions (two positions of one row and half of the two positions of the following row) or four LD2 positions. PMCs can only be loaded in cargo compartments with large doors designed to accept them (small door compartments are container-only).

File:FOIQRATR72.JPG
An ATR 72 with its cargo door open
Regional airliners
Model LD3 46×66” 88×54” 88×62” 88×108” 96×125”
Fokker 100[46] 11
CRJ200[47] 8
BAe 146-200[48] 9 6 4
ATR 72[49] 7 9 5
ATR 42[49] 5 6 3
Dash 8-300[50] 9
Xian MA600[51] 5 5
Short 360[52] 5
Cessna SkyCourier[53] 3

Identification

File:ULD nomenclature.svg
Dimension names of ULD (LD3/AKE shown)

All ULDs are identified by their ULD number. A three-letter prefix identifies its type and key characteristics,[54] followed by a 4 or 5 digit serial number (4 if prior to October 1, 1993; either 4 or 5 if after October 1, 1993) to uniquely identify it from others of the same type, and ending with a two character (alpha-numerical) suffix identifying the ULD's owner (if an airline, often the same as IATA designator codes). For example, AKN 12345 DL means that the ULD is a forkliftable LD3 with the unique number 12345 and its owner is Delta Air Lines.[55]

IATA ULD prefix[54][55]
TypeTemplate:Efn Base sizeTemplate:Efn (depth × base width) Contour/restraintTemplate:Efn (overall width × height)
Template:Ubl Template:Ubl Template:Ubl
Notes

Template:Notelist

Common prefixes

File:LD-air-freight-containers.jpg
A string of LD3 containers with AKE prefix
File:Germanwings Container 03.jpg
An LD3-45 container with AKH prefix. An AKE prefix ULD is visible to the right.
  • AAA: LD7 container (Template:Convert), Template:Convert tall, contoured for maindeck narrow-body
  • AAD: LD7 container (Template:Convert), Template:Convert tall, contoured for maindeck wide-body (aka A1)
  • AAF:[56] LD26 container
  • AAP:[56] LD9
  • AAU:[56] LD29 container
  • AAY: LD7 container (Template:Convert), Template:Convert tall, contoured for maindeck wide-body and narrow-body (aka A2)
  • AAZ: LD7 container (Template:Convert), Template:Convert tall, contoured for maindeck wide-body and narrow-body and any belly (aka L9)
  • AGA:[56] M2 container
  • AKC:[56] LD1 without forklift holes
  • AKE:[56] LD3 without forklift holes/half ALF
  • AKH, AKW: LD3-45 mainly for A320/321, Template:Convert tall, same base as AKE, extensions on both sides
  • AKN:[56] LD3 with forklift holes
  • ALB:[56] LD4 with forklift holes
  • ALD: LD11 container (aka L11)
  • ALF:[56] LD6 without forklift holes
  • ALP:[56] LD11 without forklift holes
  • ALP:[56] LD4 without forklift holes
  • AMA:[56] M1 container
  • AMD:[56] M1H container
  • AMJ: LD7 container (Template:Convert), Template:Convert tall, contoured for main deck wide-body (aka M1)Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  • AMU:[56] LD39 container contour similar to ALF, but deeper and bigger extensions. biggest lower-deck container
  • AVY:[56] LD1 with forklift holes
  • AWC:[56] LD6 with forklift holes
  • AYY:[56] Demi, a half-width contoured container typically used for the main deck
  • AYX:[56] AYY with fittings to connect a fire extinguisher so as to carry Dangerous Goods
  • DPE:[56] LD2 without forklift holes
  • DPN:[56] LD2 with forklift holes
  • DQF:[56] LD8 with forklift holes
  • FLA:[56] LD11 pallet
  • FQA: LD8 pallet (same floor dimensions as DQF)
  • HMA:[56] Horse stall
  • KMA:[56] Sheep and goat pen
  • P1P:[56] LD7, large pallet (Template:Convert), folding wings for overhang
  • PAD:[56] LD7, large pallet (Template:Convert), flat
  • PGA:[56] M6, large pallet (Template:Convert), freighter main deck only
  • PLA:[56] LD11 pallet
  • PMC: LD7, large pallet (Template:Convert)
  • QKE: LD3 same as AKE but made of KEVLAR and designed to be bombproof. No forklift holes.
  • RAP:[56] LD9 with refrigeration unit
  • RAU:[56] LD29 container with refrigeration unit
  • RKN:[56] LD3 with refrigeration unit
  • RWB:[56] LD11 with refrigeration unit
  • SAA: Full-sized version of the AYY
  • SAX: Full-sized version of the AYX
  • VRA:[56] M6, large pallet (Template:Convert), twin car rack
  • XAW:[56] LD7, large pallet (Template:Convert), fixed wings for overhang
  • XKC: LD3 without forklift holes/half ALFScript error: No such module "Unsubst".

Main-deck ULDs

On the main deck of cargo planes are Template:Convert tall ULDs with footprints similar to those of Template:Convert or Template:Convert wide pallets and Template:Convert or Template:Convert long. A Template:Convert wide × Template:Convert tall ULD is half the volume of a Template:Convert × 88 inch pallet. The 20 foot pallet is Template:Convert long and Template:Convert wide. What the actual dimensions of contoured upper deck ULDs are is very hard to know, because most manufacturers only profile width, length and height data.

There are several common types of contoured main deck ULDs, that are contoured (curved to fit in the plane's body) to provide as much cargo volume as possible. Initially ULD contouring was simply a triangle removed from one or two corners of the profile of the ULD, such as the common LD3 and LD6. Main deck ULDs use curves for the contoured shape to truly maximize cargo volume. Upper deck ULDs are just like lower deck ULDs that are either the full width of the plane with two corners of the profile removed (lower deck LD6 lower), or that container is cut in half, down the center line of the plane, (lower deck LD3 and upper deck AAX).

Main deck ULDs and pallets are not only taller than lower deck ULDs, they are frequently two or four times longer. They are usually organized like an LD6, using the width of the plane and missing two profile corners, or two very long LD3s, stored in parallel to use the plane's width and each missing one profile corner, but often twice or four times as long from plane's nose to tail.

Many air cargo companies use main deck ULDs that have both features called dual-profile, so that on smaller planes such as the Boeing 727, they are stored widthwise and have two corners contoured, and on the bigger Boeing 767, they can be rotated 90 degrees and shipped in parallel like LD3s, so that only one corner is contoured when being used like an LD3. This greatly simplifies transportation of cargo containers at slight cost of cargo volume.

See also

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References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

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