NEW-LDs: Thinking Inside (and Outside) the Box

Before a freighter pushes back from the apron, and the pilots go through the checklist of the critical systems and equipment on the aircraft, might it seem unusual to only check the sensors on three of the four engines? Or maybe test the flaps and rudder, but not the horizontal stabilizers? Of course it would –  that would be irresponsible, if not borderline suicidal.

But there are some critical cargo components that are often not given a second thought once they are loaded aboard the aircraft: the lowly unit load device, or ULD. Created to help mostly square packages fit into the round contours of an aircraft fuselage, ULDs have largely been considered little more than mere boxes to be tossed aside after the cargo has been removed – an attitude that has led to high damage rates for these workhorses.

Well, not anymore. Read article.