A cargo master coordinates loading and unloading of cargo planes, ensuring items are properly ordered and secured, and calculating cargo limits. They oversee cargo crews, maximize usable space, and monitor loads during flights to maintain balance and safety.
A cargo master is a member of an army who monitors and coordinates the loading and unloading of cargo planes. The term can also sometimes refer to a non-military worker, and in both cases, the cargo master’s job is essential to the safe and efficient operation of the airplane. Some of the duties of a cargo master include overseeing a cargo crew, ensuring that all items loaded on board are properly ordered and secured, unloading cargo quickly and in such a way that the most important items are offloaded first, and calculating cargo limits. for the plane.
Many military aircraft used as cargo planes will need to be prepared to make quick tactical maneuvers, so the cargo master must ensure that all cargo is properly secured and loaded to prevent it from moving during these maneuvers. This means that the load master’s job will be different with military aircraft than it would be with civil aircraft, which are less likely to perform tactical maneuvers in flight. The loadmaster must also know and understand airplane design to be able to properly balance a load and keep the heaviest loads on the weakest parts of the airplane.
Many aircraft have large cargo compartments, but even these compartments can become overloaded. It will be up to the cargo manager to ensure that usable space is maximized, properly packing the cargo in such a way that the weight is distributed as effectively as possible, taking advantage of every inch of the bay. He or she often uses software to make calculations about weight distribution and packing order, although hand-drawn graphs can sometimes be used, as well as visual inspections of the cargo bay itself. In some cases, the loadmaster will remain on the plane during the flight to monitor the load and ensure that it is still securely held and balanced for the entire duration of the flight.
Before the aircraft is loaded, cargo must be prepared outside the aircraft so that it can be inspected and positioned for loading. Loadmasters will also oversee this process, and any necessary changes to ordering or loading of cargo can be made at this time. Making changes to cargo once secured on the plane can be exceptionally difficult, and may be downright impossible once the plane is in flight. Proper advance planning is extremely important to ensure the safety of the aircraft as well as the safety of all cargo for the entire duration of the flight.
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