Question About Loading/Unload Times

[ClipperCargo]

I am new here, so please excuse my lack of knowledge in this field. For a project that I am working on, I need to know, on average, how long it takes to load/unload a cargo Boeing 727 and Boeing 747-400BCF. I have looked all over the place, but to no avail.

Any help is needed and appreciated.

[Intruder]

It all depends on the experience of the loading crew and the complexity of the load. A 747 can be loaded or unloaded with a full load of standard pallets in just under an hour by a good crew.

[MarkerInbound]

How many bodies do you have? A 727-200 freighter has 12 positions main deck. Four or five guys working there, one driving the K-loader, someone at the bottom of the K-loader and a couple of tug drivers with strings of dollies staged by the wing should be able to download a flight with no oddball pallets in 20 minutes and upload about the same. You get a double overhang or a 9000 pound pallet having a bad day, all bets are off. The bellies are loose loaded but the isn't much room so a couple of guys should be able to do one in 15 minutes.

[BelArgUSA]

Hola ClipperCargo -
xxx
For the 727, the above figures are correct, as well as the 747.
But think of some factors with a multiple-stop 747 cargo aircraft.
And is your 747 cargo a "real freighter"...?
xxx
There are mainly 2 types of freighters for the 747, if 200 or 400 does not matter.
What matters is this. Real 747 freighters have a NCD nose cargo door.
They can load pallets from the front nose door (with reduced height).
Reduced height due to the upper deck floor being on the loading path.
And they also have a SCD side cargo door, in the rear of the fuselage.
xxx
A NCD "nose loader" 747F is a nice machine at times.
Especially to carry long pipes for the oil industry.
xxx
Freighters converted from former 747 passenger airplanes only have the SCD side cargo door.
Their designation is 747-200SF (for "special freighter").
The pallets in the main (rear) part of the cabin can be higher than those loaded from the nose.
But you might also have to play "musical chair" with your pallets along the route.
xxx
Example -
You are to load some heavy pallets in the mid-cabin position.
Not all pallet positions can accommodate the heavier pallets.
So you have to locate pallets accordingly.
xxx
Example -
Where (along the route) are they to be loaded, or offloaded.
Maybe a few pallets need to be moved (or even taken out) to move others in and out.
Then, be careful with balance on the ground and always install a tail skid.
Or you might soon have a 747 on its tail with a nose up as a DC-3...
xxx
So yes, you could onload/offload pallets in 60 minutes in a 747.
But in some cases, might take you 90 minutes, and lots of planning.
A fly-along loadmaster always recommended, besides a A&P mechanic.
If you do not know it, a 747-200F has a max payload of some 110 metric tonnes.
With full tanks, you could only load about 60 metric tonnes.
For pounds, multiply metric tonnes by 2205.
xxx
Nice of you to use "Clipper" - makes my PanAm heart beat.
:ok:
Happy contrails, and happy 2009.

[CargoMatatu]

It depends, of course, on the quality of your handling team on the ground.

Here in LUX we alocate 90 minutes to turn a full 747F, full load off and full load on. We frequently achieve it in a shorter time if there are no complications with the load.

A super aircraft to work with the right team. :ok:

[EAM]

Depends were load/unload, at Mumbai it can take up to 5h to unload/load a DC-10, but the record is BCN 7h:{

[CargoMatatu]

Nah!

Madrid!

Used to take up to ten hours to turn a 747.

Crews would run out of duty time before departing! :ugh:

[CR2]

My "record" with a NCD 747 is full on/full off in 65mins. Start unloading through side-door while commencing loading through nose-door. For a SCD only a/c you're looking at roughly an hour for offload and another hour for onload. Can go faster, just depends on the ground crew. The aircraft can only be loaded as fast as the pallets are brought to the aircraft.

[antonovman]

The antonov 124 can take anything from 1 hour to 24 hours, sometimes longer :ugh:

[ClipperCargo]

Thank you for all of your input. This information is very helpful.

[speedygonzalez]

clippercargo, do you mean only loading/offloading or do you mean turn-around of the aircraft. they are different from each other.

[Ex Cargo Clown]

My "record" with a NCD 747 is full on/full off in 65mins. Start unloading through side-door while commencing loading through nose-door. For a SCD only a/c you're looking at roughly an hour for offload and another hour for onload. Can go faster, just depends on the ground crew. The aircraft can only be loaded as fast as the pallets are brought to the aircraft.

Just don't go trying to load any Q7 pallets through the nose :D

[CR2]

Err, yes.. Also to be avoided because its embarrassing, is offloading thru the back what you have just loaded thru the front. Ahem. :suspect: