Reference

LD-4

Full-width box with square sides. The IATA code, rate class, weights, volume and aircraft fit are below.

LD-4 unit load device
IATA code
ALP rectangular container
Code prefixes
ALD, AWD, AWZ, DLP, and forkable ALB, ALC, AWB, and AWC
Rate class
Type 8
Door size
234 x 155 cm (92 x 61 in)
Aircraft it fits
767, 777, 787 lower hold
Max gross weight
2,449 kg (5,399 lb)
Empty weight
120 kg (264 lb)
AS1825 volume
5.7 m³ (201 ft³)
Boeing volume
5.5 m³ (195 ft³)

How the LD-4 is used

A full-width lower-hold container built to the ALP rectangular code, with a canvas door and straps built in.

The sides are square, which suits the 767 and 787 holds it loads in. Being full width, it does the work of two half-width units in one lift. The prefix family includes several forkable versions.

Cargo it usually takes

  • General air freight
  • Freight already on pallets
  • Parcels

How this family is arranged

  • A full-width lower-hold unit with square sides.
  • The door is canvas, with door straps built in.
  • Forkable versions use the ALB, ALC, AWB and AWC prefixes.
  • Aluminium sheet on an extruded aluminium frame. The structure stays as light as it can, because every kilogram of empty weight takes the place of paying cargo.
  • A flat base with hardened edge rails locks into the aircraft latch and roller system, so the unit stays put without separate lashing.
  • One or two sides are angled to follow the fuselage curve, so the unit fills the belly cross-section instead of leaving empty corners.
  • The door is either a canvas curtain with restraint straps built in, or a hinged solid panel.
  • Forkable variants have channels so a forklift can move them, as well as a dolly and a loader.

Why operators pick it

  • It fills the curved belly space that loose cargo would leave empty.
  • The whole unit goes on and off in one lift, which keeps the turnaround short.
  • The cargo is restrained in flight, so each piece does not need its own tie-down.
  • Airlines and aircraft can swap the unit under the IATA identification system.

Settle these points before you book

  • Empty weight counts against the payload, so a heavier unit carries less cargo for the same rate.
  • The load must stay inside the contour. Anything above the profile fouls the hold and is rejected at build-up.
  • A canvas door keeps weather out. It is not a secure closure.
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