Efficient Cargo and Personnel Handling System

The cargo and personnel handling system in the C-2 Greyhound is functionally behind most cargo capable aircraft in the U.S. military. The current cargo and personnel handling system utilized on the C-2 requires enormous manpower efforts to load/unload cargo. Depending on the size of cargo, passenger seating must be removed in order to load the aircraft, and then reinstalled for passenger use. Except for extremely heavy packages, cargo is hand carried into the aircraft, which has resulted in numerous back injuries. Safe, Inc. has developed a prototype of an innovative seating system incorporating feedback from operators within VRC-30. When the seat backs are folded down the new seating system provides a conveyor surface to facilitate the hand loading/unloading of cargo by reducing operator-lifted weight, and eliminating the need to remove the seats. The seating system can be stowed against the aircraft cabin wall in less than 30 seconds, and can also be stowed on the aircraft floor in approximately the floor space as the existing seating system, providing additional cargo volume when needed. The Phase II program will finalize the design of the system and accomplish limited qualification testing to prepare the system for fielding.