WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT…THE AIRCRAFT LOWER DECK
The lower deck of an aircraft is usually used as cargo space. The various cargo sections are known as the hold and differ according to their position in the aircraft. The forward hold is located in the front section of the aircraft (in front of the wings). The aft hold is behind the wings and the bulk hold is at the rear of the aircraft. Then, there are still various compartments (CMPT) within the hold.
Unit Load Devices to load luggage and freight
The compartments are sometimes divided again by nets into net sectors (NS). The nets are intended to prevent the load from shifting. Unit Load Devices, ULDs for short, are used primarily in wide-body aircraft but also in some narrow-body aircraft. These are the pallets or containers used to handle the cargo. Since this leads to fewer units to load, it saves ground crews time and effort and helps prevent delayed flights. Each ULD has its own packing list so that its contents can be tracked.
Pay attention to the cargo space limits
Just like for the overall aircraft, there are structural limits regarding the weight within the compartments. The maximum permissible weight per compartment is not to be exceeded and, particularly when loading heavy cargo or luggage items, compliance with the maximum floor load or the maximum running load is mandatory. These values are usually indicated on information signs inside the compartment on the wall or near the cargo space door.
Automated cargo loading system
The Airbus A350 XWB uses a new cargo loading system. It is designed as a semi-automatic system to be used when the aircraft is on the ground. It can be handled by one person. Electrically powered drive units move the container or pallet using joystick controls to the desired parking positions on the cargo deck and are manually locked in position. Safety features are embedded in the system to protect the equipment and avoid injuries to the loading personnel.
If the cargo loading system has a Supplemental Type Certification (STC), it is approved to use the standard floor locks instead of tie down rings. The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 aircraft engine transportation stand from HYDRO, for instance, uses the freighter locks instead of tie down rings. This reduces the necessary footprint to directly save freight costs.
Combined lower deck mobile crew rest
However, lower decks are not just used for transporting cargo. Where does the crew sleep on board a long-haul flight? After all, if the trip is longer than a few hours, pilots and cabin crew need a place to unwind. On bigger aircraft, this can mean a whole other world away from passengers that you might never see. The Lower-Deck Mobile Crew Rest area in an A330 or A340, for instance, is located near door three in the middle of the plane under the passenger deck. Airlines can swap it out for cargo on shorter legs but otherwise it can sleep up to six crew members at a time. Some versions also have a pilot rest area with two bunks in place of a bathroom near the front of the plane.
Why does Lufthansa sometimes have even toilets in the cargo hold?
As the Airbus A340-600 is a large airplane, it has a lot of space on its two decks. On its cargo level, it has 201.7 m3 (7,120 cu ft) of space. This is why Lufthansa chose to relocate the toilets downstairs. They were able to increase the number of passengers aboard the aircraft accordingly. And it’s not just a lavatory Lufthansa has on this lower deck. They also have an extra galley for food and beverages. The carts are loaded on the lower level and then a small elevator brings them up to the hungry and thirsty passengers.
Want to learn more on how to transport your engine safely in cargo decks? Get in touch with your local Area Sales Manager