The cargo doors on 30 Airbus A300F freighters of the United Parcel Service (UPS) fleet will be secured with electrically-locking actuators made by Eaton Aerospace. Eaton will also supply the actuators for the 30 options if and when UPS confirms the orders. The initial 33 actuators will be made at Eaton's Vickers Actuator and Controls Division, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
UPS ordered the aircraft configured with electrically locking cargo doors rather than the standard manually locking versions to maximise the internal load space on the aircraft.
With manually-locked cargo doors, an area near the door has to be kept clear to enable crew access. With the remotely-controlled, electrically-operated actuation system, the cargo area near the door can be completely utilised.
Source: Flight Daily News
