Belly Containers & Pallets: Upward, Outward, … Everyway!

This paper deals with recent developments of containers and pallets for use in wide-body aircraft lower lobe (belly) compartments. Included are the LD-1/LD-3 expandable, LD-2EX convertible, LD-29 (“belly beast”) containers, and the extendable (winged) pallet. The marketing impact of the dual and high volume units are also explored. In addition an overview is provided of container size development from the initial LD-1 developed for the 747, the LD-3, the LD-2/LD-4/LD-8 developed for the 767 through the LD-3-46 (and modular derivatives) developed for the A320. Other special purpose container and pallet configurations, construction and tare weight trends, the evolution of cargo pallet sizes and the role of various international and national organizations in the development of belly containers and pallets are also explored.