Originally Posted by
KenV
Three questions:
1. Do you have any idea what it would take to convert a passenger airliner floor to handle roll-on/roll-off of motor cars? A LOT. To put this in perspective no airliner derivative freighter can currently do that. Just reinforcing the floor to accept pallets/containers is a huge deal.
2. Do you have an idea what it would take to install a cargo door in both the lower and upper decks of an A380? It's a HUGE deal on single deck airplane. It would be a nightmarish undertaking on a double decker.
3. Have you considered how you would lift the cars (or pallets or containers) to the upper deck of an A380? There are currently no cargo lifters that can reach that high. So A380 freight service would not only entail limiting such service to the few airports that can handle an A380, but to airports that can handle an A380 AND have special cargo handling equipment..
Don't disagree with any of this although I really think it's kind of missing the point.
Most air-freight is pallet/container based, talk of roll-on/off is meaningless, cars are put on pallets and shipped like everything else.
Other point with the A380 is that it's internal volume is massive Vs. it's max load weight compared to other freighters (747 etc), and most current fighters are load limited by weight not volume. What I am getting at here is why bother using the upper deck for freight? as you have said, loading it would be a PITA and with only the main and lower decks, you're likely to hit the weight limit anyway, leaving the upper deck also give the option of carrying 100-150 passengers etc.