Airport Handling Manual

AHM 452 1.2 Area Load Limitation

1.2.1 The hold area load limitation, expressed in kg/m2
(lb/ft2), is to prevent the weight of the load (expressed in kg
BULK COMPARTMENT LOAD or lb) resting upon a certain area of the compartment floor
LIMITATION (expressed in m2 or ft2) to exceed the capability of the aircraft
structure underneath the floor (beams, cross beams, attach-
RECOMMENDED that, Members should use the following ments to the aircraft body).
procedure: 1.2.2 The hold area load limit is provided by the aircraft
manufacturers in the appropriate chapter of the Weight and
1. AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE Balance Manual. It is generally referred to as “Uniformly
LIMITATIONS Distributed Floor Loading” or “Maximum Distributed Load”.
1.2.3 If it is stated that the area load limit is 750 kg/m2, this
1.1 Running (Linear) Load Limitation means that on 1 m2 of the floor, not more than a total amount
1.1.1 Definition — an aircraft is a flexible structure. In of 750 kg may be loaded, with one or several pieces of
particular, the fuselage contorts during flight according to the cargo, and irrespective of the way the piece (or the pieces) of
loads it contains. So that the fuselage contortion does not cargo is (are) in contact with the floor within the square meter
exceed at any point the maximum allowed limit, which would considered.
result in a risk of permanent damage, the manufacturer 1.2.4 In practice, the area load limitation shall be checked
defines a running (linear) limitation, i.e. a maximum load dividing the weight of the piece of cargo by the area defined
acceptable on any given fuselage length. This limitation is by the external contour of its contact points on the floor (see
expressed in kg per m (lb per in) of fuselage length. example).
The linear limitation applies to the whole of the load located
in a given part (on a given length) of the hold.
1.1.2 General case — the linear limitation determines the
total maximum load allowed in each bulk hold section. It is
provided by the manufacturer in the appropriate chapter of
the Weight and Balance Manual. Therefore, it is prohibited to
exceed this maximum load per section.
1.1.3 Heavy packages — in the event of carriage of one or
several heavy packages, the running load limitation is com-
plied with, and there is no need to check it, if the following
rules are applied:
total load in the hold section (including the heavy pack-
age(s)) is below the allowed maximum load for the
section;
the use of a spreader floor (see 1.2) if the area load
limitation is exceeded.

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Example:
In this case the area to take into account is not the crate's
or the surface of its feet but the area S = L × I defined by
the external contour of its contact points:
1.2.5 If the resulting figure is higher than the limitation, the
load cannot be accepted as it is. It will be necessary to
provide a spreader floor to be placed under the load. The
spreader floor shall meet two requirements:
1.2.5.1 it shall possess a sufficient degree of stiffness to
effectively accomplish the load transfer; this degree of
stiffness will be dictated by the weight of the load and the
length of spreader projecting beyond or within each actual
contact point of the package with the spreader floor;
1.2.5.2 the resulting area, defined by the external contour of
the contact points of the spreader floor, shall distribute the
load below or up to the maximum permitted area load.
To determine the area required the following calculation is
made: divide the weight of the piece of cargo by the hold
area load limit (see example).
28TH EDITION, JANUARY 2008
Aircraft Handling and Loading — AHM 452
Example:
Load = 240 kg.
Area load limit = 750 kg/m2.
Minimum surface defined by the external contour of the
contact points of the spreader floor:
Spreader = 10 kg.
S = L × I = 0.7 m × 0.5 m = 0.35 m2.
Note: The total weight is a combination of the load and
spreaders.
The load imposed by the total weight of cargo and spreader
on the aircraft structure may now be compared with the area
load limit dividing the weight by the new area S:
1.2.6 If the package requires a spreader floor, this means
that even with this floor the maximum area load limitation is
reached: therefore, no other cargo shall be loaded on the
package itself or on the accessible parts of the spreader
floor.
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2. FLOOR PANELS LIMITATIONS
2.1 Contact Load Limitation
2.1.2 The floor contact load limitation (expressed in kg/m2 or
lb/ft2) is used to prevent the weight imposed by those parts of
the load in direct contact with the floor from exceeding the
capability of the horizontal floor panels (metal sheets, honey
comb sandwich panels).
2.1.3 The floor contact load limit is provided by some aircraft
manufacturers in the corresponding chapter of the Weight
and Balance Manual. It is generally referred to as “Concen-
trated (Foot Print) Load” or “Maximum Local Load”.
2.1.4 If it is stated that the floor contact load limit is 2,000
kg/m2, this limitation shall be checked dividing the weight of a
piece of cargo by the sum of its actual contact area with the
floor (see example).
Example:
2 Floor contact load limit = 2,000 kg/m2.
Actual contact area = 30 cm ´ 5 cm ´ 2 battens = 0.03 m
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2.1.5 If the resulting figure is higher than the limitation the
load cannot be accepted as it is. It is necessary to provide a
spreader floor to be placed under the load. The spreader
floor shall meet two requirements:
2.1.5.1 it shall possess a sufficient degree of stiffness to
effectively accomplish the load transfer; this degree of
stiffness will be dictated by the weight of the load and the
length of spreader projecting beyond or within each actual
contact point of the package with the spreader floor;
2.1.5.2 its actual contact area with the aircraft floor will
distribute the load below or up to the maximum permitted
contact load.
To determine the contact area required, the following calcu-
lation is made: divide the weight of the piece of cargo by the
floor contact load limit (see example).
Example:
Load = 480 kg.
Weight of spreader = 20 kg.
Spreader floor contact surface = 1 m ´ 0.125 m ´ 2 =
0.25 m2.
Note: The total weight is a combination of load and spreader.
The load imposed by the cargo on the aircraft floor panels
through the spreader floor may now be compared with the
contact load limit dividing the weight by the new contact area:
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 Aircraft Handling and Loading — AHM 452

2.1.6 If the package requires a spreader floor, this means 2.2.2.1 Packages handling.
that even with this floor the maximum contact load limitation During handling, never lay a heavy (more than 50 kg)
is reached: therefore, no other cargo shall be loaded on the package on one corner (see examples).
package itself or on the accessible parts of the spreader
floor. Never drop down a heavy (more than 50 kg) package on an
edge or a corner: the impact might result in floor puncture.
2.1.7 Where no floor local load limit is provided by the
manufacturer, it is recommended to take the following steps
when loading heavy pieces of cargo.
2.1.7.1 Check with structure area load limitation as per
Paragraph 1.
2.1.7.2 Even if the area load limitation is not exceeded, but if
the actual contact area of the piece of cargo with the floor is
small, e.g. narrow battens, rims, etc., place spreader material
between the piece of cargo and the floor. The contact
surface of the spreader should be at least equivalent to one
quarter of the external contour area used for check calcu-
lation in step 2.1.7.1
2.1.7.3 Step 2.1.7.2 is not required if it has been found
necessary to use a spreader floor after checking step 2.1.7.1.

2.2 Point Load Limitation

2.2.1 It defines the resistance to puncture (by a heavy load
bearing onto a very small surface) to the material used in a
bulk hold floor. It is equivalent to a pressure, and is
expressed in kg/cm2 (lb/in2).
In practice, the concentrated load limit of bulk floors is very
high: normally handled packages does not reach that limit.
This is why the point load limitation is not mentioned in the
manuals of the aircraft manufacturers and carriers.
2.2.2 It is recommended, however, to apply the elementary
package handling precautions indicated hereafter in order to
avoid a floor puncture by a point load during handling in a
bulk hold.

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2.2.2.2 When using a “Pinch Bar” place a floor protector

device beneath the “Pinch Bar” prior to applying the load,
e.g. a plank or piece of plywood (see examples).

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