CARGO GATE FOR HOLDING AT LEAST ONE CARGO ITEM WITHIN A CARGO HOLD OF AN AIRCRAFT, CARGO DECK WITH A CORRESPONDING CARGO GATE, AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING OR FITTING OUT A CARGO DECK FOR THE PURPOSE OF AIRDROPPING CARGO ITEMS

摘要

In order to be able to airdrop cargo items during a flight, use is made of cargo gates which secure the cargo items and release them at a given time. The present application describes an improved cargo gate. This cargo gate for holding at least one cargo item at a predetermined position within a cargo hold of an aircraft comprises: at least one retaining element (20); at least one fastening device (30, 30') having at least one articulation for articulatedly fastening the retaining element (20) to a cargo hold floor (3) such that the retaining element (20) can be pivoted from an operative position for holding the at least one cargo item (1, 1', 1'') into an inoperative position, wherein the retaining element can be traversed by the at least one cargo item in the inoperative position. According to the invention, the retaining element (20) is to be provided with a stop (40) which can be operatively connected to a pivotable locking lug (141) of a locking device (140) such that the locking lug (141) holds the retaining element (20) in the operative position thereof.