Products >> Airbus Cargo Loading Systems

It works like this: A loader will move a container into the aircraft through one of the large cargo doors. Just inside the door is a ball mat, a device in the floor of the cargo hold that will pull the container all the way in and then start it on its way to the correct location, where it will be locked in place. The container is moved forwards or backwards by motorized rollers in the floor, the so-called PDUs (Power Drive Units).

The Rheinmetall system controls the engagement of these PDUs – when and in which direction the roller should turn. There are several generations of these systems:

Airbus Cargo
Loading Systems

Airbus Cargo Loading Systems

Rheinmetall Defence Electronics in Germany (formerly STN-ATLAS Elektronik) has developed and produces all the electronic controls for the Airbus wide-body cargo loading systems. These are the aircraft systems that move the containers and pallets to their right locations in the forward and aft cargo holds, and then move them back out at their destination. The cargo holds are on the lower deck of the aircraft, below the passenger cabin.

Because of its straightforward operating logic and its extreme reliability, the Rheinmetall systems have gained customer acclaim world-wide, and it must have been the logical choice for Airbus when equipping the A380.

The original automatic system used on A300 B2 and B4 models.
A semi-automatic system for the lower deck on F (cargo) versions of the A300 and A310.
A semi-automatic system for the A330/A340 200 and 300 models.
The Cargo Conveyance System installed in the A340-500 and -600.
The system on the new A380, which will be very similar to the latest A340 installation.

The Cargo Conveyance system for each of the two cargo compartments consists of:

A Compartment Control Box that controls the power distribution (115/208VAC at 400 Hz and the 28VDC) and also controls the Sector Control Boxes.
Several Sector Control Boxes that control the PDUs in a portion of the cargo hold.
An Outside Control Panel that’s accessed from the outside of the aircraft and has a multi-directional joystick for controlling the movement of a container on and off the ball mat area.
An Inside Control Panel, which is a joystick mounted in the ceiling of the cargo hold, just inside the door, and controls the movement of a container forwards or backwards in the cargo hold.
A Maintenance Display Unit that indicates if maintenance is required.
Two types of PDUs, a self-erecting type used in the ball mat area and a spring-lift version used elsewhere in the cargo compartments.

All these units are “smart” – they know and record what’s going on, so when they are brought in for service, the diagnostic equipment at Erie Aviation can determine exactly what its history is.

The diagnostic equipment is essential for repairing these systems. There is one test bench in Singapore to support Asian markets, one at Rheinmetall in Germany and one here at Erie Aviation for the Americas. The bench includes a complete system where a customer unit – for instance a Sector Control Box – can be plugged in and operated as if it were in the aircraft. That way problems are quickly identified and the units are comprehensively tested, repaired, certified and returned to the customer.

Please call or e-mail us if you have any questions concerning these products.

For customer service and support, please contact us between
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., EST Monday - Friday.

Erie Aviation, Inc.
Erie International Airport
Business Address: 1607 Asbury Road | Erie, PA 16505 USA

Telephone: 814-838-8934 | Fax: 814-833-3672

E-mail:

General Information: info@erieaviation.com

Sales Information: sales@erieaviation.com

Support Information: support@erieaviation.com

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