Analysis of Materials - Handling Equipment for Lower Lobes of Wide-Bodied Aircraft

This paper deals with materials-handling equipment (MHE) for loading/offloading the lower lobes of wide-bodied aircraft and the capacity of the lower lobes. The advances and development of transport aircraft have historically outdistanced complementary ground systems. For example, Air Force-owned loaders used for military aircraft do not interface properly with wide-bodied lower lobes, as accessibility is difficult. Quarter-ton trucks and Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) are representative of equipment size that is practicable for movement via wide-bodied lower lobes. Potential exists for greater use of this airlift capability in the future by fine-tuning mobility planning and modernization of MHE.