Airplanes carry more than just passengers. Whether it’s a small Cessna 172 or a jumbo-sized Airbus A320, most airplanes have a dedicated space for cargo. Known as a cargo hold or baggage hold, it plays an important role in the aviation industry. Below are five fun facts about baggage holds.
#1) Located Below Passenger Area
In most airplanes, the cargo hold is located directly below the passenger area. The fuselage essentially features multiple levels. The passenger area is the top level, whereas the cargo hold is the bottom level. By placing the cargo hold below the passenger area, engineers are able to better maintain proper weight distribution and balance for the airplane.
#2) 1,000 to 6,000 Cubic Feet
Cargo holds vary by size, with most ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 cubic feet. Narrow-body airplanes, of course, typically have smaller cargo holds than their wide-body counterparts. Narrow-body airplanes are characterized by a single aisle, resulting in a slim fuselage. Wide-body airplanes have two aisles, resulting in a wider fuselage. With their wide fuselage, they feature a larger and more spacious cargo hold.
#3) Pressurized
Contrary to popular belief, most cargo holds are pressurized. They feature a similar pressure level as the passenger cabin — typically the equivalent of 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. Pressurization is important because it protects various items stored in the cargo hold from damage, including but not limited to electronic devices, musical instruments and live animals. Without pressurization, the air in cargo holds would become very thin as the airplane gained altitude.
#4) Different Loading Methods
Not all airplanes use the same loading method for cargo holds. Narrow-body airplanes rely on workers who manually stack luggage and bags into the airplane’s cargo hold, working their way from the back to the front. Wide-body airplanes, on the other hand, leverage large shipping containers called Unit Load Devices (ULDs). Passengers’ luggage and bags are placed inside of these ULDs, at which point they are transferred to the cargo hold via a track
#5) Can Still Get Cold
They may be pressurized, but cargo holds can still get cold. They typically don’t have the exact same climate control measures as passenger areas. Even if the passenger cabin is warm, the cargo hold below it may be cold. With that said, many airplanes have climate-controlled cargo holds so that animals, medicine and other sensitive items will remain safe throughout the flight.
