This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) establishes three classes of pallets:

a. Type A, Air only Pallet

b. Type B, Platform Pallet (Air/Surface Intermodal)

c. Type C, Adapter Pallet

Pallets will have nominal dimension of:

a. Size F pallet (10 ft) (NAS 3610-2F1P) - 2.44 m x 2.99 m (96 in x 117.75 in)

b. Size R pallet (16 ft) (NAS 3610-2R1P) - 2.44 m x 4.98 m (96 in x 196 in)

c. Size G pallet (20 ft) (NAS 3610-2G1P) - 2.44 m x 6.06 m (96 in x 238.5 in)

d. Size H pallet (30 ft) (NAS 3610-2H1P) - 2.44 m x 9.12 m (96 in x 359.25 in)

e. Size J pallet (40 ft) (NAS 3610-2J1P) - 2.44 m x 12.19 m (96 in x 480 in)

Type A, Air only pallets, will normally be on aircraft equivalent roller conveying systems and/or on similarly equipped ancillary ground handling devices.

Type B, Platform pallets, are suitable for air/surface handling and transport systems. Supplementary requirements for Type B version are found in Section 4.

Type C, Adapter pallets, are used to adapt 2.44 m x 2.44 m (8 ft x 8 ft) surface mode only containers for transport. Supplementary requirements for Type C version are found in Section 5.

NOTE: Use of the adapter pallet with surface mode only 2.44 m x 2.44 m (8 ft x 8 ft) containers may require uniform load distribution on the base cross members of these containers for carriage on certain aircraft. The aircraft approved Weight and Balance Manual should be referred to for loadability procedures or limitations, or both.

Purpose:

This Aerospace Standard (AS) provides dimensional, structural, and environmental requirements for 2.44 m (8 ft) wide pallets to be used in freighter versions of certificated aircraft equipped to provide restraint to pallets tested to the requirements of NAS 3610 Class II restraint system. It is also intended to be compatible with 2.44 m x 2.44 m (8 ft x 8 ft) cross section containers described in AS832. The Type C adapter pallet is intended to be compatible with 2.44 m x 2.44 m (8 ft x 8 ft) cross section containers described in ANSI MH 5.1, Cargo Containers and ISO 1496 Series 1, Freight Containers. Pallet nets used in conjunction with these pallets are described in AS1131. The minimum essential criteria are identified by use of the key word "shall". Recommended criteria are identified by use of the key word "should", and while not mandatory, are considered to be of primary importance in providing serviceable, economical, and practical air transport pallets. Deviation from recommended criteria should occur only after careful consideration, extensive testing, and thorough service evaluation have shown alternate methods to be satisfactory.