ULDs are crucial in transporting air cargo safely, quickly and cost-effectively. They enable individual pieces of cargo, luggage or mail to be assembled into a single unit, which can then be loaded on and off an aircraft with speed. 

To prevent the ULDs moving around during flight and potentially damaging the aircraft, the plane has loading and restraint systems. These interface directly with a ULD, effectively locking the ULD into place so it becomes part of the aircraft.

The most important purpose of a ULD is to secure cargo during flight. The safety of the plane and its passengers comes first every time. But ULDs also:

• eliminate the need for manual loading and unloading 
• protect cargo contents so that goods arrived undamaged
• maximise the use of the aircraft’s cargo space
• allow the fast, easy transfer of cargo between planes

The global introduction of standardised containers has improved cargo handling enormously, lowering operational costs. That, in turn, helps lower freight charges and boosts trade flows.

Just like any other aircraft component, ULDs are regulated to ensure flight safety under all likely and extreme circumstances. These rules are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and put into national legislation by each Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA assesses and certifies ULDs for their continued airworthiness.

Storing and relocating empty ULDs has long been a critical issue for the air cargo industry. The worldwide imbalance costs enormous sums of money and causes no end of inconvenience. It also undermines efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

Our solution to this concern? To create certified containers that can be folded and stacked when empty. Now you don’t need to leave your containers halfway around the world because a return flight is too expensive. And you can take one step closer to zero-carbon flying.

Our collapsible containers can carry the same volume of cargo as standard containers, and it meets exactly the same air-worthiness requirements. Curious which ULD’s can be collapsed? Have a look at our collapsible general cargo containers and collapsible horse stalls.

• Makes loading and unloading cargo easier
• Makes loading onto and unloading off an aircraft easier
• Gives better protection against all kinds of weather
• Gives better protection against damage to the cargo
• Gives better protection against damage to the aircraft by the cargo
• Prevents unauthorised access to the cargo

• Cheaper to use than containers
• Accepts cargo that is difficult to fit into containers (e.g. oversized cargo)
• Accepts some ‘Special Load’ cargo that can only be loaded on open pallets
• They are stackable and therefore efficient and easy to store empty and return by plane