TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF ADVANCED AIR CARGO SYSTEMS

The current air cargo environment and the relevance of advanced technology aircraft in enhancing the efficiency of the 1990 air cargo system are discussed. NASA preliminary design studies are shown to indicate significant potential gains in aircraft efficiency and operational economics for future freighter concepts. Required research and technology elements are outlined to develop a better base for evaluating advanced design concepts. Current studies of the market operation are reviewed which will develop design criteria for a future dedicated cargo transport. Design features desirable in an all-freighter design are reviewed. NASA-sponsored studies of large, distributed-load freighters are reviewed and these designs are compared to current wide-body aircraft. These concepts vary in gross takeoff weight from 0.5 Gg (one million lbs.) to 1.5 Gg (three million lbs.) and are found to exhibit economic advantages over conventional design concepts.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conf-Presented at Forum on Airfreight Contribution in Securing Markets Abroad Aeroport de Paris, France, 17-18 Nov. 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Langley Research Center

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  Hampton, VA  United States  23665
• Authors:
  • Whitehead Jr, A H
• Publication Date: 1978-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air cargo; Air transportation; Aircraft; Cargo aircraft; Cost effectiveness; Economic analysis; Economics; Freight transportation; Length; Market research; Technological forecasting; Technology assessment; Transportation; Vehicle design; Weight; Wide body aircraft; Width; Wings (Aircraft)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aircraft design
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo transportation; Wing span
• Subject Areas: Economics; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00180487
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA-TM-78672
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 19 1978 12:00AM