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The alternative to containerisation of air freight is to use the traditional palletised method as depicted in this photo of cargo about to be loaded into a Martinarr DC-10CF Dedicated freighter aircraft primarily use this method which allows certain operational flexibilities not always available with standard containers
The ULD Story
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When interviewing the Manager of a leading air cargo operator, the subject naturally turned to underfloor cargo containers or Unit Load Devices (ULD). The cargo operator’s sister airline was at the time about to introduce into service a new wide body airliner, an aircraft not able to carry the standard LD3 containers two abreast. A special ULD, the L2 had been developed for this aircraft and it had been claimed that this placed the aircraft and the airline at a competitive disadvantage in the air freight market.
The air freight Manager said this was rubbish and added, possibly tongue in cheek, that using the non-standard LD2s lessened the chances of losing them. He pointed out that the LD3s were often interlined with international airlines and disappeared overseas, never to be seen again. His main competitor, he said, had had this problem.
In a later casual conversation with the editor of AUSTRALIAN AVIATION, the Manager’s comments were mentioned. Our esteemed editor said: “I wonder how airlines do keep track of their containers. Could you look into it?”
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