SUPPLEMENT


specialised equipment. As


air travel and


cargo


transportation


evolved, ULDs became more sophisticated, with the development of different materials like aluminium and composite materials, and a wider range of sizes and designs to accommodate various types of cargo. ULDs significantly improved the efficiency


of air cargo operations, reducing the time and labour needed for loading and unloading. They also contributed to cargo safety by reducing the chances of damage and theft during handling. In the late 1960s, international airfreight


needed a smarter, more efficient way to move cargo. Different airlines used different packaging methods, which made shipping slow and messy. Before that, during the 1950s and early


60s, there were no special aircraft built just for freight. Airlines had to work with what they had. ULDs existed, but each one was made to fit a specific aircraft, with no standard shape or size. Things changed with the arrival of powerful


aircraft like the DC-8 and Boeing 707. These aircraft could fly faster and carry up to 40 tonnes of cargo. Suddenly, airfreight became a serious business. ULDs helped make the most of that space.


Made from lightweight aluminium, they fit neatly into the curved bellies of planes. But being light also meant they were easily damaged, so handlers had to treat


them


carefully. Over time, ULDs got smarter. Special


containers were developed to carry everything from frozen food to medicine and even live animals. And with today’s tech, some ULDs are Bluetooth-enabled for easy tracking and temperature control. By the early 1970s, airlines and manufacturers began standardising ULDs. But


it wasn’t until 2013 that IATA (International Air Transport Association) officially set global rules for their use. From wooden crates to high-tech smart


containers, the ULD has come a long way - quietly shaping the world of airfreight behind the scenes.


Funny and quirky Of course there are some humorous and quirky stories involving ULDs in aviation. While ULDs are usually behind-the-scenes workhorses, they’ve occasionally taken centre stage in some funny and bizarre incidents. Here are a few light-hearted stories and anecdotes I have found. In one famous case, a curious cat managed


to sneak into a ULD while it was being loaded. The feline travelled all the way across the Atlantic, hidden among boxes. Upon arrival, the cargo crew was shocked when a very confused (and slightly grumpy) cat leapt out. Luckily, it was unharmed and was eventually reunited with its owner. Since then, ULDs get an extra check - not just for cargo, but for “live freight” of the four-legged kind! At a smaller airport, an inexperienced


ground crew member mistook a ULD for a futuristic passenger seat module and asked where the seat belts were. Another ground handler jokingly said, “It’s first class for boxes.” That phrase still gets thrown around today in some cargo departments. In a logistics blunder, a fully loaded ULD


container somehow ended up on a passenger flight without any matching shipping documents. It arrived at its destination with no one knowing what was inside. The airline jokingly called it “the mystery box,” and it became something of a legend among ground crew until the contents, printer ink and chewing gum, were finally identified.


“The potential of air for moving goods was further highlighted in 1911, when the UK ran a


month-long trial to deliver mail by air as part of the Coronation celebrations for King George V.”


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