Ground_Support_September2020 - 35

Photos courtesy of Lufthansa Cargo

CARGO MATTERS

"Besides an approval from the responsible authorities, the layout of the aircraft
needs to be changed and the operating
organization has to do a risk evaluation
and has to approve the conversion as
well," notes Judith Wedlich-Blender, project leader for the conversion of aircraft at
Lufthansa Cargo.
Wedlich-Blender explains there are
three allowable scenarios for loading cargo
in the passenger section of an aircraft.
One option is for cargo to be stored on
seats, between seats and in bins. Cargo can
also be stored in specific seat containers or
seat bags. The third option is for cargo to
be secured on the floor when the aircraft's
seats are removed.
"Technical Standard Orders (TSO) certified nets and lashing belts, or tie down
straps, are used to secure cargo on passenger seats on the floor of the passenger
cabin," add officials at Emirates.
Only certain cargo is allowed in passenger compartments, explains WedlichBlender. She points out this is a safety issue
for a number of reasons. For example, the
fire extinguishing system in the passenger
cabin is not as specific as those located in
cargo aircraft.
IATA's guidance notes that dangerous
goods and cargo-aircraft-only dangerous
goods cannot be transported in a passenger
cabin. Rather, they must be carried in the
cargo compartment and only if the operator
carries their National Aviation Authority's
approval to do so.
"Special procedures have been developed
to comply with safety and security standards," says Wedlich-Blender.
Emirates officials note that special
guidelines regarding the positioning and
usage of various ground support equipment (GSE) to assist with the loading and

unloading of cargo on the converted aircraft
are in place for ground service providers.
These guidelines ensure a safe and efficient
aircraft turnaround.
Examples of these new GSE guidelines
include revised loading and unloading
sequences to maintain aircraft ground
stability and guidance on the docking and
usage of main deck loaders (MDLs) on the
cabin service doors.
"The loading and unloading sequence
was adjusted in consideration of aircraft
ground stability and aircraft turnaround
efficiency," say officials at Emirates.
"Simultaneous loading and unloading of
cargo in certain compartments as well as
the cabin could be achieved in support of
a safe and efficient turnaround."
Wedlich-Blender explains that depending on authority approval and the specific
airline, the type of cargo that can be transported in a preighter is limited.
Emirates officials note that standard
GSE, such as MDLs, passenger steps and
aircraft catering trucks, can be utilized to
transport cargo items between the apron
and passenger cabin for loading/unloading.

Still, the loading and unloading process
can be demanding.
"On average, we require between 12 to 20
agents to load and/or offload the cabins,"
explain officials at Emirates. "There are
many variables on which these numbers
depend, including the type of ground support equipment that is being used to load/
offload the cabin."
"When handling converted passenger
aircraft, a lot of manual work is needed,
which is more time- and resource-consuming, compared to the handling of
freighters," agrees Wedlich-Blender. "This
results in increasing ground times of the
converted aircraft."
IATA reminds its member airlines that
monitoring subcontractors and the cargo
services they perform is critical so that
cargo is transported safely.
Officials at IATA say the airlines' innovative response to such an unprecedented
global health crisis ensured that vital medical supplies were able to move in a quick
and safe fashion to help the fight against
the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEPTEMBER 2020

AviationPros.com

http://www.AviationPros.com

Ground_Support_September2020

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