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{{short description|Pallet or container used to load luggage, freight, and mail on aircraft}}
[[Image:Unloading JAL 747.jpg|thumb|250px|Unloading LD3 containers from a [[Boeing 747]]]]
A '''unit load device''' ('''ULD''') is a [[shipping container|container]] used to load luggage, freight, and mail on [[wide-body aircraft]] and specific [[narrow-body aircraft]]. It allows preloading of [[cargo]], confidenceprovided the containerised load will fitfits in the aircraft, andenabling 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 (transportation)|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&nbsp;billion, averaging ${{#expr:1000/0.9round-2}} each.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.iata.org/publications/store/Pages/uld-regulations.aspx |title= ULD Regulations |publisher= IATA |access-date= 2018-07-13 |archive-date= 2018-07-13 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180713202703/https://www.iata.org/publications/store/Pages/uld-regulations.aspx |url-status= dead }}</ref>
 
==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 times made of aluminium or a combination of aluminium (frame) and [[Lexan]] (walls) but there are examples of containers made of [[Fiberglass|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.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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| {{#expr:8+7}} LD3
| data-sort-value="3.07" | 3 + 7 LD3
| data-sort-value="3.07" | 3 + 7 LD3 || 15 || 16<ref name= A300-A310P2F>{{cite web |url= https://www.elbeflugzeugwerke.com/fileadmin/pdfs/Brochure_EADS-EFW-A300-A310-Conversions.pdf |title= A300/A310 P2F |publisher= [[Elbe Flugzeugwerke]] |access-date= 2018-07-31 |archive-date= 2018-07-31 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213043/https://www.elbeflugzeugwerke.com/fileadmin/pdfs/Brochure_EADS-EFW-A300-A310-Conversions.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> ||
|-
! [[Airbus A330]]-2/800<ref name=A330>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/techdata/aircraft_characteristics/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-AC-A330.pdf |title= A330 Aircraft Characteristics - Airport and Maintenance Planning |date= Jul 2018 |publisher= Airbus}}</ref>
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| data-sort-value="14.02" | {{#expr:8+6}} + 2LD3 || {{#expr:8+6}} || 33<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gecas-and-iai-launch-777-300er-cargo-conversion-461491/|title=GECAS and IAI launch 777-300ER cargo conversion|last=Kingsley-Jones|first=Max|date=2019-10-16|website=Flightglobal|language=en-GB}}</ref> || ||
|-
! [[Boeing_777X#777-8F|Boeing 777-88F]]F<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/commercial/freighters/#/777-8f-highlight/777-8f/cargo-arrangements/ |title= 777-8 Freighter |publisher= Boeing}}</ref>
| 40 LD3<ref>{{cite news |url= https://leehamnews.com/2015/07/23/options-for-singapore-airlines-to-operate-direct-flights-to-the-us-part-2/ |title= Options for Singapore Airlines to operate direct flights to the US, part 2 |author= Bjorn Fehrm |date= July 23, 2015 |work= Leeham}}</ref>
| || 13
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| data-sort-value="6.14" | 6 + 14 LD3 || 26 || 26 || 34
|-
! [[Lockheed L-1011]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.tristar500.net/articles/techprofile.pdf |title= L-1011-500 TriStar technical profile |publisher= Lockheed |access-date= 2018-07-31 |archive-date= 2017-12-08 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171208144003/http://www.tristar500.net/articles/techprofile.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| {{#expr:12+7}} LD3
| data-sort-value="4.07" | 4 + 7 LD3 || || || ||
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|-
! Model
!
! data-sort-type="number" | Containers !! data-sort-type="number" | 96×125″ !! data-sort-type="number" | 88×125″ !! data-sort-type="number" | 88x108″
|-
! [[Airbus A319]]<ref name=A319>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/techdata/aircraft_characteristics/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-AC-A319-Feb18.pdf |title= A319 Aircraft Characteristics - Airport and Maintenance Planning |date= Feb 2018 |publisher= Airbus}}</ref>
!
| {{#expr:2+2}} [[#Types|LD3-45]] || || ||
|-
! [[Airbus A320]]<ref name=A320>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/techdata/aircraft_characteristics/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-AC-A320-Feb18.pdf |title= A320 Aircraft Characteristics - Airport and Maintenance Planning |date= Feb 2018 |publisher= Airbus}}</ref>
!
| {{#expr:3+4}} LD3-45 || || 11<ref name=A320-A321P2F>{{cite web |url= https://www.elbeflugzeugwerke.com/fileadmin/pdfs/EFW_A320_A321P2F_six_pager.pdf |title= A320/A321 P2F |publisher= Elbe Flugzeugwerke |access-date= 2018-07-31 |archive-date= 2018-07-31 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180731183429/https://www.elbeflugzeugwerke.com/fileadmin/pdfs/EFW_A320_A321P2F_six_pager.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> ||
|-
! [[Airbus A321]]<ref name=A321>{{cite web |url= https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/techdata/aircraft_characteristics/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-AC-A321-Feb18.pdf |title= A321 Aircraft Characteristics - Airport and Maintenance Planning |date= Feb 2018 |publisher= Airbus}}</ref>
!
| {{#expr:5+5}} LD3-45 || || 14<ref name=A320-A321P2F/> ||
|-
! [[Boeing 707]]-320C<ref name=B707>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/707.pdf |title= 707 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= Boeing}}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD || || 13 || 13
|-
! [[Boeing 727]]-100C<ref name=B727>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/727.pdf |title= 727 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= Boeing}}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD{{efn|The B727-200 had an option to hold 11 specific {{cvt|45.5|-|92.4|x|41.1|x|43.4|in|m}} base-full width × height × depth, {{cvt|78|cuft}} underfloor containers.}} || || 8 || 8
|-
! [[Boeing 737]]-200C<ref name=B737>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/737.pdf |title= 737 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= Sep 2013 |publisher= Boeing}}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD || || 7 || 7
|-
! [[Boeing 737-300]]SF<ref name=B733>{{cite web |url= http://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/media/products/data_sheets/B737-300_9_Pallet_Spec_Sheet.pdf |title= B737-300SF Freighter Conversion |publisher= Aeronautical Engineers }}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD || || 9 ||
|-
! [[Boeing 737-400]]SF<ref name=B734>{{cite web |url= http://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/media/products/data_sheets/B737-400_11_Pallet_Spec_Sheet.pdf |title= B737-400SF Freighter Conversion |publisher= Aeronautical Engineers }}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD ||
| data-sort-value="10.5" | 10 ½ ||
|-
! [[Boeing 737-700]]C<ref name=B737/>
!
| no lower ULD || || 8 || 8
|-
! [[Boeing 737-800]]SF<ref name=B738>{{cite web |url= http://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/media/products/data_sheets/B737-800SF_12_Pallet_Spec_Sheet_1.pdf |title= B737-800SF Freighter Conversion |publisher= Aeronautical Engineers }}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD ||
| data-sort-value="11.5" | 11 ½ ||
|-
! [[Boeing 757]]-200F<ref name=B757>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/757_23.pdf |title= 757 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= Boeing}}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD || || 15 ||
|-
!Comac [[Comac C919|C919]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=COMAC C919 Guide and Specifications: China's Chance to Corner the Competition - Aviator Insider |url=https://aviatorinsider.com/airplane-brands/comac-c919-guide/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>
! [[Douglas DC-8]]-55F<ref name=DC-8>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/dc8.pdf |title= DC-8 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= McDonnell Douglas }}</ref>▼
!
| no lower ULD || || 13 || ▼
|{{#expr:3+4}} LD3-46<ref>{{Cite web |title=飞机装卸载系统的动力学分析 |url=https://wenku.baidu.com/view/d10e5bcb83eb6294dd88d0d233d4b14e85243e65?aggId=b55e32a00708763231126edb6f1aff00bfd57006&fr=catalogMain_text_ernie_recall_feed_index:wk_recommend_main3 |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=wenku.baidu.com}}</ref>
|
|
|
|-
▲! [[Douglas DC-8]]-55F<ref name="DC-8">{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/dc8.pdf |title= DC-8 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= McDonnell Douglas }}</ref>
! Douglas DC-8-62/72F<ref name=DC-8/>▼
!
| no lower ULD || || 14 || ▼
▲| no lower ULD || || 13 ||
|-
! Douglas DC-8-6162/63/71/73F72F<ref name="DC-8" />
!
| no lower ULD || || 18 || ▼
▲| no lower ULD || || 14 ||
|-
▲! Douglas DC-8-6261/72F63/71/73F<ref name="DC-8" />
! [[Douglas DC-9]]-15F<ref name=DC-9>{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/dc9.pdf |title= DC-8 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= McDonnell Douglas }}</ref>▼
!
| no lower ULD || || || 6▼
▲| no lower ULD || || 18 ||
|-
▲! [[Douglas DC-9]]-15F<ref name="DC-9">{{cite web |url= https://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/commercial/airports/acaps/dc9.pdf |title= DC-8 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning |date= May 2011 |publisher= McDonnell Douglas }}</ref>
! Douglas DC-9-32F<ref name=DC-9/>
!
| no lower ULD || || || 8
▲| no lower ULD || || || 6
|-
! Douglas DC-9-32F<ref name="DC-9" />
!
| no lower ULD || || || 8
|-
! [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80]]SF<ref name="MD-80">{{cite web |url= http://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/media/products/data_sheets/MD-80_Spec_Sheet.pdf |title= MD-80SF Freighter Conversion |publisher= Aeronautical Engineers }}</ref>
!
| no lower ULD || 8 || 8 || 12
|}
{{notelist}}
 
[[File:Loading LD3 cargo containers onto United Boeing 777-300ER.webm|thumb|LD3 containers being loaded onto a [[Boeing 777-300ER]].]]
[[File:Qatar Airways Airbus A380-800 at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 before Flying to Doha, 6 Jan 2015.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Qatar Airways]] [[Airbus A380]] at [[Heathrow Terminal 4]] with various [[Airport ground support equipment|ground handling equipment]] including containers, a pallet loader, ULD, jet air starter, belt loader, [[Pushback (aviation)|pushback tug]], catering vehicles and dollies]]
 
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.
Line 360 ⟶ 385:
| || || || 8 || ||
|-
| [[BAe 146]]-200<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pionair.com.au/news/bae-146-200qc/ |title= BAe 146-200QC arriving April 2013 |date= March 28, 2013 |publisher= Pionair |access-date= November 11, 2018 |archive-date= December 18, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010147/http://www.pionair.com.au/news/bae-146-200qc/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| 9 || || || || 6 || 4
|-
| [[ATR 72]]<ref name=ATRfamily>{{cite web |url= http://www.atraircraft.com/products_app/media/pdf/FAMILY_septembre2014.pdf |title= ATR Family |publisher= ATR |date= Sep 2014 |access-date= 2018-11-11 |archive-date= 2017-05-16 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170516192620/http://www.atraircraft.com/products_app/media/pdf/FAMILY_septembre2014.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| 7 || || || 9 || 5 ||
|-
Line 372 ⟶ 397:
| || 9 || || || ||
|-
| [[Xian MA600]]<ref>{{cite news |url= https://cargofacts.com/a-new-small-freighter-from-china/ |title= A new small freighter from China |author= David Harris |date= January 10, 2013 |work= Cargo facts }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| 5 || || 5 || || ||
|-
Line 384 ⟶ 409:
==Identification==
[[File:ULD nomenclature.svg|thumb|right|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,<ref name="VRR-IATA-ULD">{{cite web |title=Identifying a Unit Load Device |url=https://vrr-aviation.comaero/uldknowledge-infocenter/everything-about-ulds/uld-id-code/ |titleurl-status=Identifying a Unit Load Device |publisher=VRR Aviationlive |access-date=2124 FebruaryJuly 20192025 |publisher=VRR.aero}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Air_Cargo">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.fredoniainc.com/glossary/air.html
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