are involved,” says the spokesman. “It
is perhaps the carriers, rather than the
ground handlers, that are looking more
closely at these devices at the moment.”
With or without
TLD’s Group Technical Director is
Laurent Decoux. “In the US we can supply
equipment with or without the AHM
913 specification, according to customer
requirement,” he says. “Recently, though,
we have been seeing more and more
interest in handling equipment with
the IATA recommended safety devices.
Carriers like JetBlue, in particular,
appreciate what AHM 913 offers. The
driving force has been more the handler
than the carrier in our experience.”
To underline this comment, the
company’s ASD (Aircraft Safe Docking)
system is continuing its upward growth,
with more than 1,500 sold units to date.
The system, he relates, is so popular that
customers have asked TLD to adapt it to
non-TLD beltloaders, which the company
has effected.
Charlatte America’s spokesperson
reports that AHM 913 suggestions have
been adopted in full in the US, thus
mirroring the situation with the Francebased
parent. Three types of bumper are
available, as are rotating wheels positioned
at the end of the belt. There are even
ridged rubber protrusions (see image)
that remind operators not to push the belt
end into the hold proper. Whilst all these
devices are ready it is here a question of
customer choice, for they are not included
as standard on the GSE in question.
Safety first
Talk to GSE manufacturers in Europe
and most will point out vehicles that
have already been equipped with a variety
of applications to render the handling
operation less risky. From cameras and
AHM 913
sensors through to protective bumpers
and modified drivetrain technology, this
latter which automatically slows down the
GSE as it approaches an aircraft, there is
an array of solutions available. In many
respects, it can be said that GSE has never
been safer. So what is holding back the
manufacturer?
It’s no surprise, perhaps, to mention the
word cost. The incorporation of any sort
of safety measure cannot be achieved for
nothing; and since handlers and airlines
alike are doing their best to turn a profit,
so the idea of extra expenditure isn’t easily
swallowed.
However, from the foregoing it is
clear that the sector is aware of the IATA
recommendations and that, increasingly,
stakeholders, whether it be airlines or
handlers, are moving towards greater
and greater adoption. With the snowball
rolling, it can only gather in both
momentum and size.
If you are interested in advertising
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Ramp Equipment News
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markets then please contact
COVERING THE
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NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2
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PLUS AUTONOMOUS GSE • TELEMATICS • GROUND POWER
COVERING THE
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FEBRUARY–MARCH 2018
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FIGHTING
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GSE www.rampequipmentnews.com
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EARLY ELECTRIC GSE • WORKER PAY • HANDLER INTERVIEW
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PLUS DE-ICING UPDATE • LITHIUM USE • LATIN AMERICA FOCUS
Marc Young on +44 1322 221144 or at marc@groundhandling.com
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