Method and apparatus for minimizing blast damage caused by an explosion in aircraft cargo bay

A method of loading a cargo bay of an aircraft fuselage in order to minimize the blast damage of an explosion, said cargo bay extending along a predetermined length within the aircraft fuselage and having a width which is bounded by opposite side walls of the fuselage, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first explosion-resistant container including a plurality of high-strength, light-weight panels for resisting a blast of a maximum anticipated magnitude, and a substantially non-explosion-resistant panel which cannot resist a blast of a maximum anticipated magnitude;
• providing a second explosion-resistant container also including a plurality of high-strength, light-weight panels for resisting a blast of a maximum anticipated magnitude, and a substantially non-explosion-resistant panel which cannot resist a blast of a maximum anticipated magnitude;
• storing cargo to be transported in at least one of said containers;
• maneuvering the first and second containers into the cargo bay;
• arranging the first and second containers in pairs such that the non-explosion-resistant panel of each of the containers is aimed away from the fuselage side wall to which the container is nearest, in a substantially perpendicular direction toward the opposite fuselage side wall across the cargo bay, and;
• positioning the first and second containers such that the non-explosion-resistant panel of each of the first and second containers are substantially facing and aligned with one another.