Aircraft Cabin Interiors and Cargo Holds on the Airbus A310

Aircraft Cabin Interiors and Cargo Holds on the Airbus A310

Aircraft passenger seats

The 18Xft (5.64m) fuselage cross-section provides an optimum balance between aerodynamic considerations, true wide-body passenger accommodation, and a standard underfloor cargo systems fit. It allows customised twin-aisle layouts, ranging from a six-abreast first class configuration to nine-abreast high-density seating for the charter market. A typical mixedclass layout in the A310 accommodates 20 first class passengers in a 2/2/2 configuration with a 40in (102cm) seat pitch, plus 200 economy class passengers 2/4/2 at 32in (81cm) pitch, narrowing to 2/3/2 in the rear fuselage taper. A three-class configuration could accommodate 12 first class (62in [157cm]) seat pitch, 32 business (40in) and 147 economy seats (32in). High-density nine-abreast charter seating is possible for up to 280 passengers. Some 95 percent of passenger seats are doubleseat units with a width of 40.4m.

There is a gap between the two centre units to ensure that each passenger has at least one armrest not shared with another passenger. The two aisles in economy class are 191n (48cm) wide. Crew seats are also incorporated, one at each door, and a purser station in the front passenger cabin. Two optional crew seats can be installed at the front side of the forward cabin bulkhead.

The cabin has been designed for four galleys, with a total capacity of 21 trolleys, allowing the serving of two hot meals plus beverages. The standard aircraft is equipped with five aircraft lavatories, four in the rear and one in the forward cabin. Structural provisions have been made for an additional lavatory in the front cabin.

Access to the cabin is via four large doors along each side of the fuselage, two ahead of the wing and two at the rear, measuring 42 x 76in (1.07 x 1.93m x 1.07m). These are outward parallel-opening plug-type doors and require no power assistance. They are impossible to open in normal cruise flight with the aircraft pressurised. There are also two 26X x 53in (0.67 x 1.34m) plug-type emergency exits of similar construction over the wings, and two 24 x 28in (0.7 x 0.6m) crew emergency exits.

Cargo compartments

The A310 has two underfloor cargo compartments, which can accept all standard ULDs (Unit Load Devices) in current use. In the forward hold, up to eight LD3 or four LD6 containers can be carried two-abreast, while three full-size pallets or a mixture of both are alternative options. The rear hold can take up to six LD3 or three LD6 containers plus bulk cargo. A net separates the rear cargo from the bulk cargo compartment, which has a usable volume of around 610 cu.ft (17.3m') and a load capacity of 6,1001b (2,770kg). All the holds can be heated and ventilated so that livestock can be carried.

Access to the main cargo compartments is provided by two doors in the lower right hand side of the fuselage. The forward door measures 106 wide x 67in high (2.7/m x 1.7m), and the rear hold door 71 wide x 67in high (1.81m x 1.7m). Both doors open outwards and upwards hydraulically, with manual locking/unlocking, and extend over the full height of the holds. There is also a manually-operated 37 x 37in (0.95m x 0.95m) plug-type door to the bulk cargo compartment. The A310-2000 convertible and A310-200F and -300F freighter conversions, have a main deck cargo door on the forward left hand side with 70° or 145° opening angle and measuring Min wide x 101in high (3.58m x 2.57m). Typical cargo on the main deck of the A310F comprises 16 88in x 125in (223.5cm x 135.5cm) or 18 88in x 108in (223.5cm x 274cm) pallets in side-by-side loading, or five containers and five pallets.

Both the forward and aft cargo compartments can be provided with a semi-automatic electrically powered loading system, which is controlled by an operator from the control panel, located behind service doors in the outer skin on the right hand side of each doorway. The system permits manual loading/unloading if the power dives are inoperative.

Cabin Interior design

This is the starting point from which airlines can then build their own identity, commissioning companies like Design Q to work on quality aircraft interior styling, material specification and bespoke trimming for VIP interiors or airline cabin interiors. Upholstery specification consultants are important contributors to an airlines image.