Unit load device
Unit Load Devices ( ULDs for short ) are pallets and containers that are used to load baggage, freight and mail onto wide-body and narrow-body aircraft . They allow large quantities of cargo to be bundled in large units.
Their use means fewer units need to be loaded and they save ground handling companies , time and effort.
Types
There are 2 forms of ULD:
- ULD pallets are panels made of aluminum sheet with a substructure made of profiles, the edges of which are designed so that the eyelets of the freight nets can be snapped into them.
- ULD containers are closed containers made of aluminum sheets with a profile frame or a combination of aluminum (frame) and plastic (walls). Depending on the type of goods they contain, these can also have built-in cooling units. In addition, these ULD containers are often equipped with eyelets on the inside, in order to be able to fix heavy freight items and shipments according to DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations).
Lufthansa Cargo also uses LD3 containers, which are made almost 100 percent of plastic and are therefore 14 kg lighter than the containers previously used.
Below are examples of common ULDs and their specifics.
Container | Internal volume (in m³) | Dimensions (in cm) base width / width × depth × height base / width × depth × height |
Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
LD1 | 4.9 | 156BW / 234W × 153D × 163H | Especially for Boeing 747 |
LD2 | 3.4 | 120BW / 158W × 153D × 163H | beveled, half width |
LD3 | 4.3 | 156BW / 201W × 153D × 163H | beveled, half width |
LD6 | 8.8 | 318BW / 407W × 153D × 163H | beveled, full width, equivalent to 2 LD3s |
LD7 | beveled | ||
LD8 | 6.9 | 244BW / 318W × 153D × 163H | beveled, full width, equivalent to 2 LD2s; DQF prefix |
LD9 | not beveled; rectangular | ||
LD11 | 7.2 | 318W × 153D × 163H | same as LD6 but not beveled; rectangular |
Pallets | Internal volume (in m³) | Dimensions (in cm) depth × (base) width |
Remarks |
LD8 | 6.9 | 153 × 244 | same floor dimensions as the container variant; FQA prefix |
LD11 | 7.2 | 153 × 318 | same floor dimensions as container variant; FLA and PLA prefixes |
LD7 (2 variants) |
10.6 11.6 |
224 × 318 244 × 318 |
PAJ, PAG and P1P prefixes PMC prefix - 20 cm greater depth (depth, aircraft longitudinal) |
Airplane Compatibility
LD3, LD6 and LD11 are suitable for Boeing 787 , Boeing 777 , Boeing 747 , McDonnell Douglas MD-11 , Lockheed L-1011 and all Airbus wide-body aircraft. The Boeing 767 is loaded with LD2 and LD8 due to its narrow fuselage. The less common LD1s were specifically designed for the Boeing 747, but LD3s are more often used in their place because of their general availability (they have the same floor dimensions, so an LD3 takes up as much space as an LD1). LD3 containers with a reduced height (45 ″ instead of 64 ″) can also be used in the Airbus A320 family. LD7s are used for Boeing 787, 777, 747, later models of the 767 (with the large door) and all Airbus wide-body aircraft.
Exchanging certain ULDs between LD3 / 6/11 aircraft and LD2 / 8 aircraft is possible when the cargo needs to be quickly transferred to the next flight. The LD2 and LD8 can both be loaded onto the LD3 / 6/11 aircraft, but this results in a large loss of volume. Flying a ULD that is not intended for the aircraft type is also possible if you have the time, but no other ULDs are available.
It is also possible to load LD3 in the Ilyushin Il-86 and Ilyushin Il-96 .
ULDs were built for the Tupolev Tu-204 , which are based on the ULD of the AKH type for the Airbus 319-321.
ULD capacity
Aircraft loadings can consist of containers, pallets, or a mix of ULD types depending on simplicity. Below is a table with the maximum loading capacities of aircraft. The maximum payload depends on the type of aircraft and the configuration of the airline. So is z. B. The Q position in the main deck cannot be assigned on every jumbo freighter.
(The Russian productions are missing, such as the IL86 / 96 and TU204, for which there are also ULD versions.)
plane | Max. Container capacity | Max. Pallet capacity | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
A380-800F | 59-71 LD3 | ? | Cargo plane, project discontinued - will never be produced. |
A380-800 | 38 LD3 | 13 pallets | |
B747-400F / ERF | 32 LD1 (lower deck) + 30 pallets (main deck) | Cargo plane, capacity includes all decks + 2 small pallets in the main deck | |
B747-400ER | 28 LD1 | 4 pallets + 14 LD1 | |
B747-400 / 300/200/100 | 30 LD1 | 5 pallets + 14 LD1 | |
B747-8I | 38 LD1 | 7 pallets + 16 LD1 | |
B747-8F | 40 LD1 (lower deck) + 34 pallets (main deck) | 46 pallets + 2 LD1 | |
B777F | 30 LD3 + 27 pallets | 37 pallets | Cargo plane, capacity includes all decks |
B777-300 / 300ER | 44 LD3 | 8 pallets + 20 LD3 | |
B777-200 / 200LR / ER | 32 LD3 | 6 pallets + 14 LD3 | |
A350-1000 XWB | 44 LD3 | 14 pallets | |
A350-900 XWB | 36 LD3 | 11 pallets | |
A350-800 XWB | 28 LD3 | 9 pallets | |
A340-600 | 42 LD3 | 14 pallets | |
A340-500 | 30 LD3 | 10 pallets | |
A340-300 | 32 LD3 | 11 pallets | |
A340-200 | 26 LD3 | 9 pallets | |
MD-11 | 28-32 LD3 | 4–6 pallets | |
MD-11 F | 32 LD3 + 26 pallets | ||
L-1011-500 | 19 LD3 | ? | |
L-1011 | 16 LD3 | ? | all series except 500 (250/200/150/100/50/1 series) |
B787-9 | 26 LD3 | 6 pallets + 8 LD3 | |
B787-8 / -3 | 20 LD3 | 5 pallets + 5 LD3 | |
A330-300 | 32 LD3 | 11 pallets | |
A330-200 | 26 LD3 | 8 pallets + 2 LD3 | |
A330-200F | 26 LD3 (lower deck) + 22 pallets (upper deck) | 18 pallets P6P + 4 pallets P1P | Cargo plane, capacity includes all decks (standard configuration) |
A321 | 10 LD3-45W | k. A. | Container version (optional) AKH; Standard version: Bulk |
A320 | 7 LD3-45W | k. A. | Container version (optional) AKH; Standard version: Bulk |
A319 | 5 LD3-45W | k. A. | Container version (optional) AKH; Standard version: Bulk |
B767-400ER | 38 LD2 | 5 pallets + 18 LD2 | |
B767-300F | 30 LD2 (lower deck) + 24 pallets * (main deck) | * only takes 88 ″ × 125 ″ pallets; Cargo plane | |
B767-300ER | 30 LD2 | 4 pallets + 14 LD2 | |
B767-300 | 30 LD2 | no | |
B767-200 | 22 LD2 | no | |
A300-600 | 22 LD3 | 4 pallets + 10 LD3 | |
A300-600F | 22 (23) LD3 + max. 21 pallets | Cargo plane, capacity includes all decks (standard configuration) | |
A300B2 / B4 | 20 LD3 | ? | |
A310 | 14 LD3 | 3 pallets | |
B727-200F | no | 12 pallets * | * only 88 ″ × 125 ″ pallets; the Boeing 727 is a narrow-body aircraft |
B727-200C (station wagon) | no | Max. 11 pallets * | * only 88 ″ × 125 ″ pallets if no passengers can on board; the Boeing 727 is a narrow-body aircraft |
ID
All ULDs can be identified by a unique ULD number. This consists of a three-letter prefix to identify the type, followed by a 4 or 5-digit serial number and a suffix to identify the owner.
position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4… 7 | 8… 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
character | Letter | Letter | Letter | numbers | Letters |
description | Type of loading unit | Dimensions of floor space in inches | Contour, compatibility | serial number | owner |
Examples: | |||||
AAK 2418 LH | A. | A. | K | 2418 | LH |
Container | 88 in × 125 in | K-contour (igloo; LD7) | Serial number 2418 | Lufthansa | |
AKN 12345 DL | A. | K | N | 12345 | DL |
Container | 60.4 in × 61.5 in | LDS container with fixed door / VAL | Serial number 12345 | Delta Airlines | |
AKH 057 GWI (picture above) |
A. | K | H | 057 | GWI |
Container | 60.4 in × 45 in | LD3-45 container | Serial number 057 | Germanwings |
Common prefixes
IATA ID Code Reference List |
Type of unit | Basic dimensions in inches |
Empty weight [kg] |
Perm. Total weight [kg] |
Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAA | Container | 88 in × 125 in | 232 | 6033 | A300, B727, B737, B747, B757, B767, B777, DC-8 |
AAC | Container | 88 in × 125 in | 220 | 6033 | B727, B747, B757, B767, B777, A300, DC-8 |
AAJ | Container | 88 in × 125 in | 251 | 6033 | A300, DC-8, DC-10, L-188 |
AAK | Igloo unit | 88 in × 125 in |
225 |
200/
6033 |
4625/ |
AAN | QC container | 88 in × 125 in | 243 | 3000 | |
AAX | Container | 88 in × 125 in | 270 | 6033 | A300, B747, B767, B777 |
AAY | EURO container | 88 in × 125 in | 250 | 3629 | Name for US |
ABU | Container | 88 in × 108 in | 198 | 2223 | AN26, ATR72, B727, B757, DC-8, L-188 |
AGA | 20ft container | 96 in × 238.5 in | 1500 | 11,340 | |
LFS | LD 3 container | 60.4 in × 61.5 in | 80 | 1588 | |
AKH | LD 3-45 container | 60.4 in × 45 in | 80 | 1134 | |
AKN | LDS container with fixed door / VAL | 60.4 in × 61.5 in | 80 | 1588 | |
Nuclear power plant | LD 3-45 container for valuable freight | 60.4 in × 45 in | 100 | 1134 | |
ALF | LD6 without forklift guidance | 60.4 in × 123.0 in | 96 | ||
AMA7 | 10 'container with flexible door | 96 in × 125 in | 255 | 6804 | |
AMA8 | 10 'container with fixed door | 96 in × 125 in |
410 |
325/ 6804 | |
AMF | AMF container | 96 in × 125 in | 375 | 5504 | |
AMG | 10 'container with flexible door / GOH | 96 in × 125 in | 316 | 6804 | |
AMJ | Container | 96 in × 125 in | 307 | 6804 | B767, B777, B747, A300 |
AMP | Clothes container | 96 in × 125 in | 305 | 6804 | up to 2000 additional load on top |
AQ67 | 10 'container with flexible door | 96 in × 125 in | 255 | 6804 | |
AQA7 | 10 'container with flexible door | 96 in × 125 in | 255 | 6804 | |
AQA3 | 10 'container with fixed door | 96 in × 125 in | 325 | 6804 | |
ASE | 20 'container | 96 in × 238.5 in | 1000 | 11,340 | |
AVA | LD3 clothes / valuables container | 60.4 in × 61.5 in | 80 | 1588 | |
AVE | LD3 container | 60.4 in × 61.5 in | 80 | 1588 | |
AXY | Container | 60.4 in × 108 in | 140 | 1043 | B757SF only |
DPE | LD2 catering container (CFG) | 47 in × 60.4 in | 71 | 1225 | |
DQF | LD8 container (CFG) | 60.4 in × 96 in | 128 | 2342 | only B767 |
HMA | Horse stable for 3 horses | 96 in × 125 in | 1030 | 3280 | |
HMJ | Horse stable for 3 horses | 96 in × 125 in | 805 | 3000 | B747, B777, MD11 |
HYJ | Horse stable for 3 horses | 88 in and 96 in pallet | 420 | ||
HYJ | Horse stable for 3 horses | 88 in × 125 in | 510 | ||
JAN | Cooling igloo | 88 in × 125 in | 545 | 5300 | |
NGE | Pallet net for PGE / P7E | 25th | |||
NKA | Pallet network for PKC | 5 | |||
NLA | Pallet net for PLA / PLW | 10 | |||
NME | Pallet network for P1P / PAG / PAJ / PAW / PAX / P6P / PMC / PMW / PQP | 15th | |||
NYB | Pallet network for PYB | 10 | |||
P1P | palette | 88 in × 125 in | 120 | 6804 | |
P6P | palette | 96 in × 125 in | 130 | 6804 | |
P7E | 20 'pallet | 96 in × 238.5 in | 500 | 11,340 | |
PAG | palette | 88 in × 125 in | 120 | 6804 | |
PAJ | palette | 88 in × 125 in | 120 | 6804 | |
PAS | Heavy duty pallet | 88 in × 125 in | 250 |
9072 |
6804/ |
PAW | Pallet with side extension | 88 in × 125 in | 167 | 6804 | only lower deck |
PAX | palette | 88 in × 108/125 in | 100 | 6804 | |
PEA | Half pallet | 53 in × 88 in | 56 | 1136 | |
PGA | 20 'pallet | 96 in × 238 in | 500 | 13,608 | |
PGE | 20 'pallet | 96 in × 238 in | 500 | 11,340 | |
PKC | Pallet with side extension | 60.4 in × 61 in | 80 |
1588 |
1134/ |
PLA | Pallet without page expansion | 60.4 in × 125 in | 144 | 3175 | |
PLW | Pallet with side extension | 60.4 in × 125 in | 144 | 3175 | only lower deck |
PMC | palette | 96 in × 125 in | 130 | 6804 | |
PMS | Heavy duty pallet | 96 in × 125 in | 148 |
9072 |
6804/ |
PMW | Pallet w. Page expansion | 96 in × 125 in | 152 | 6804 | only lower deck |
PQP | palette | 96 in × 125 in | 100 | 6804 | |
PYB | Q pallet | 55 in × 96 in | 70 | 1814 | B747 |
PZA | 16 'pallet | 96 in × 196 in | 400 | 9300 | |
RA4 | Cooling igloo | 88 in × 125 in | 450 | 6033 | |
RKN | Cooling LD3 | 60.4 in × 61.5 in | 444 | 1588 | autonomous cooling, accessible for forklifts |
VRA | Car transport frame only for PZA pallets | 130 / pair | 2500 / pair | ||
VZA | Car transport platform | 3.35 mx 2.05 m | 190 | 2500 | |
XYW | Valuable freight box | 2.00 m × 1.35 m × 1.38 m | 90 | 1500 |
See also
Web links
- Overview of different pallets and containers (English)
- Guide to Air Freight Containers (English)
- ULD overview (partially outlined) from Emirates / SkyCargo (English)
- Research project on an optimized aircraft loading system
- Fleet and loading equipment brochure “Pallets, Containers and Fleet”. (PDF; 5140 kB) Lufthansa Cargo , accessed on April 9, 2016 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lufthansa Cargo on the move with lighter containers - Europe's leading freight airline is further reducing fuel consumption and emissions ( Memento of May 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), Lufthansa Cargo on the move with lighter containers. Memento May 21, 2014, lufthansa-cargo.com. accessed November 1, 2015.