An aircraft has been sold to a company that wishes to use it

An aircraft has been sold to a company that wishes to use it for delivering humanitarian supplies to areas of natural disaster. The seats will be removed and they want to add a cargo door above for access to where the passengers previously sat. What are the mechanical considerations and material options for such a new design aspect? Assume that there is only one aircraft to be modified. Select one from each list below:

Solution

Cargo Vehicle need to carry heavy weight, so plane weight should be less for optimum fuel efficiency. metallics is strongly recommended, emphasizing tailoring of alloy systems to provide significant advances in such traditional areas as weight reduction and environmental resistance. Aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloy systems, for example, promise evolutionary benefits in higher stiffness and lower density, with no reduction in structural life.

Cargo door location may be considered to be at the discretion of the aircraft designers. However, the location shall be selected and the path of cargo movement (that is straight-in, Y, 90\" turn) shall be directed by the ability of the system to meet such performance parameters as turn-around times and the handling of all ULD sizes. Consideration shall be given to a location which will enable suitable ground loading equipment to man oeuvre easily into position. The door opening shall be such that it provides maximum clearance with the cargo envelope, and the full open position shall be the maximum allowed by the aircraft structure. Ground equipment clearances -- Cargo door (including visors) opening criteria shall be compatible with the requirements for clearance of ground interface loading equipment at the aircraft loading interface. Operating times - Cargo door opening and closing times shall be as short as possible commensurate with safety and the unlocking, actuation, and locking operations. These times, however, shall not exceed 90 s.