ULD Capacity
Aircraft loads can consist of containers, pallets, or a mix of ULD types, depending on requirements. The table below indicates the maximum capacity of an aircraft for all-container and all-pallet configurations. 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 (96" × 125") can be stored. These pallets occupy approximately three LD3 positions (it occupies 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).
| Aircraft | Max Container Cap. | Max Pallet Cap. | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| B727-100F | none | 8 pallets* | *88" × 125" pallets only; the 727 is a narrow-body |
| B727-200F | none | 12 pallets* | *88" × 125" pallets only; the 727 is a narrow-body |
| B727-200C (combi) | none | 11 pallets* | *88" × 125" pallets only; the 727 is a narrow-body |
| B757-200F | 13 SAAs* or 28 AYYs | 14 PAGs | *Position 14 is AYYs only |
| B747-100/200/300 | 30 LD1s | 5 pallets + 14 LD1s, or 9 pallets | |
| B747-400 | 32 LD1s | 5 pallets + 16 LD1s, or 9 pallets + 2 LD1s | |
| B747-400ER | 26 LD1s | 4 pallets + 14 LD1s | |
| B747-400F/ERF | 32 LD1s (lower deck) + 30 pallets (main deck) | freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks | |
| B767-200 | 22 LD2s | 3 pallets + 10 LD2s | |
| B767-300 | 30 LD2s | 4 pallets + 14 LD2s | |
| B767-300ER | 30 LD2s | 4 pallets + 14 LD2s | |
| B767-300F | 24 pallets* (main deck) + 30 LD2s (lower deck) | *accepts 88" × 125" pallets only; freighter aircraft | |
| B767-400ER | 38 LD2s | 5 pallets + 18 LD2s | |
| B777-200/200ER/200LR | 32 LD3s | 10 pallets | |
| B777F | 30 LD3s + 27 pallets | 37 pallets | freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks |
| B777-300/300ER | 44 LD3s | 14 pallets | |
| B787-8/-3 | 28 LD3s | 9 pallets | |
| B787-9 | 36 LD3s | 11 pallets | |
| A300B2/B4 | 20 LD3s | ? | |
| A300-600 | 22 LD3s | 4 pallets + 10 LD3s | |
| A300-600F | 41 LD3s | 25 pallets | freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks A300-600F deck layout |
| A310 | 14 LD3s | 3 pallets | |
| A319 | 4 LD3-45W + 1 LD3/40 | Note LD3 height only 45"; add. cont. acc. IATA contour H | |
| A320 | 7 LD3-45W | Note LD3 height only 45"; add. cont. acc. IATA contour H | |
| A320PF | 10 pallets* (main deck) + 7 LD3-45W (lower deck) | 10 AAZ (main deck) + 7 LD3-45W (lower deck) | *accepts 88" × 125" pallets only; freighter aircraft equipped with fwd cargo 86×121" door |
| A321 | 10 LD3-45W | Note LD3 heigh only 45"; add. cont. acc. IATA contour H | |
| A321PF | 13 pallets* (main deck) + 10 LD3-45W (lower deck) | 13 AAZ (main deck) + 10 LD3-45W (lower deck) | *accepts 88" × 125" pallets only; freighter aircraft equipped with fwd cargo 86×121" door |
| A330-200 | 23 pallets or 26 LD3s | 8 pallets + 2 LD3s | |
| A330-200F | 9 AMA containers + 4 pallets (main deck) + 26 LD3 (lower deck) | 22 pallets (main deck) + 8 pallets + 2 LD3 (lower deck) | freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks A330-200F deck layout |
| A330-300 | 32 LD3s | 11 pallets | |
| A340-200 | 26 LD3s | 9 pallets | |
| A340-300 | 32 LD3s | 11 pallets | |
| A340-500 | 30 LD3s | 10 pallets | |
| A340-600 | 42 LD3s | 14 pallets | |
| A380-800 | 38 LD3s | 13 pallets | |
| A380F | 59–71 LD3s | 66 pallets | freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks A380F deck layout |
| MD-11 | 32 LD3s | 26 pallets | |
| L-1011 | 16 LD3s | none | all series except 500 (250/200/150/100/50/1 series) |
| L-1011-500 | 19 LD3s | 4 pallets* | *if equipped with fwd cargo 104" door |
| Il-86 | 16 LD3s | ? | |
| Il-96 | 18 LD3s | ? | |
Actual number of ULDs loaded may be lower if aircraft is at its weight limit.
Read more about this topic: Unit Load Device, Aircraft Compatibility
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