Variable waterline for horizontal pressure deck

A pressure deck system for a fuselage of an aircraft. The pressure deck system comprises a first sloping outboard pressure panel, a first longitudinal stiffener connected to the first sloping outboard pressure panel, a second sloping outboard pressure panel opposite the first sloping outboard pressure panel, a second longitudinal stiffener connected to the second sloping outboard pressure panel, pressure panels between the first sloping outboard pressure panel and the second sloping outboard pressure panel and forming the an upper barrier of a wheel well, longitudinal beams connected to the pressure panels and supporting a cabin floor of the fuselage, and a sloping pressure deck connecting a number of these components to the rear spar of the center wing box. A waterline of the pressure deck system is de-coupled from a side-of-body waterline in the fuselage.