The Air7 is the first ever inflatable solution for Unit Load Devices on the market, and it is now ready for certification. Manufacturer VRR is convinced users of the Air7 will see their competitiveness improve significantly.
“Current methods of relocating ULDs are expensive and time consuming,” explains Geert van Riemsdijk, Managing Director of VRR. “But a container that can be collapsed quickly and easily and then stacked seven high on a lower deck is a game changer for fleet managers. That’s really going to help them cut costs and increase capacity. And then we have not even discussed the cost saving when it comes to storage of the containers”.
The prototype of the inflatable AKE was revealed at last year’s WCS in Singapore. The Air5 , as the prototype was called, demonstrated the considerable potential of inflatable ULDs, including their ability to help resolve the global air cargo imbalance on many trade lanes. VRR has been overwhelmed by interest from around the world ever since. It even won the interDESIGN excellence award at InterAirport Europe last year. Positive feedback spurred the company to bring its solution to market.
The Air7 has several improvements over the prototype: it has a lower folding height, hence its ability to be stacked seven high on a lower deck. Significant other improvements have also been carried out to make it weatherproof, ready for series production and ready for certification.