Abstract: The disclosure describes a unit load carrier which comprises a support for supporting at least a portion of the weight of the unit load, a fluid cell cooperatively arranged adjacent to the support and including a collapsible wall, and a mechanism for controlling the rate at which fluid is released from the fluid cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the support comprises a resilient cushion including a first side having a surface for supporting the portion of the weight of the unit load, an oppositely-facing second side, and an edge extending between the first and second sides; the fluid cell comprises a generally pillow-shaped air cell mounted to the edge of the support adjacent to the surface; and the controlling mechanism comprises an orifice disposed in the air cell and sized to limit the rate at which air is released from the cell.