36 FEBRUARY 2008 GHI Interairport With around 25,000 square metres of space, over 600 exhibitors and with 30 countries represented, the 2007 showcase provided a comprehensive range of products and services. Of the exhibitors, all the major names were present and with a huge captive audience, most stands were kept busy. One manufacturer in great demand was that of Vestergaard, the de-icing specialist. On show were several of its vehicles and the company, which has a market share in de-icing around Europe of between 60-80%, hosted a steady stream of visitors. With four decades of experience behind it and engineers that sit on international de-icing groups and committees, its reputation precedes it. Other GSE of note included the Catcon. Possessing a useful degree of fl exibility, this award-winning hi-lift can be used for a great many applications in terms of aircraft ground handling. The SideCat allows for the transportation of passengers with reduced mobility as well as catering applications. German handler Fraport is the launch customer for this novel piece of equipment, which will play a PRM rôle. Able to accommodate four wheelchairs, its cabin has both front and rear accessibility and the cabin itself can be lowered right to the ground from a maximum height of 5.7 metres. At the event Zaglauer presented the latest models in its Ground Handling System, namely the Flyer Truck C 150 Cabin and C 200. These two towing machines are designed for commercial use and enable rapid, reliable and effi cient transportation of all current aircraft types on the ground that have a take-off weight of up to 20 tonnes. Currently, around 250 towing devices from the Flyer Truck Ground Handling System are in service for all aircraft types throughout Europe. News from the ground power sector: in Munich, Houchin confi rmed that it would be winding down its ASU programme and in fact it would only be offering an ASU refurbishment service in the future. That said, GPU manufacture and supply continues apace and the company’s Simon Fraser mentioned plenty of business in the pipeline. Also on the ramp power front, Belgian company LEBRUN was showing its electrically-operated air conditioning unit, which is ready for the A380. The unit can be skid-mounted or trailer mounted; in contrast, its diesel-powered air conditioning units are suitable for truck mounting or towing. All its devices benefi t from very distinctive, modern styling. Movers in Munich If the 2007 InterAirport show didn’t enjoy the best of weather it did, nevertheless, attract the crowds, writes Alwyn Brice. Celebrating the PRM Without a shadow of a doubt, the 2007 show excelled insofar as it was the showcase for several new ideas and applications. Le Porti, which had been noted at other events, was again present, having undergone much testing at CDG Paris and at Stuttgart in the interim. A sort of bobsleigh in its construction, it houses the PRM and can effectively carry him or her out of a specially adapted van, along the ramp and up any set of steps without the need for further transfer. The spokesperson confi rmed that over the last four years there has been a growing interest in a solution to the carriage of the PRM: and the Porti has been three years in development, which says a lot for its credentials. For a cheaper solution, the new Ambistair on the Aviation Equipment Resources stand stood out from the crowd. We covered this application in the December issue of the magazine and, predictably, the product attracted much attention during the event, since this was effectively its debut. According to the company’s Glyn Martin, he was somewhat surprised at the level of interest exhibited by Scandinavian delegates; he also reported an enthusiastic response from the Chinese. In fact, his product had a truly global appeal: “We were talking to a passenger handler at JFK; we had visitors from BIDAir, in South Africa, and both Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines came to the stand to look at the device. We also had interested parties from the UK. Overall, it was a very pleasing response.” The PRM was also at the heart of another new British initiative, the Wheelbox, which was being shown by AWIS, itself a division of WWB Services. Rather akin to the bicycle sharing projects being implemented in capitals around Europe, this concept relies on the provision of wheelchairs in pods that can be rented out for occasional use. With applications at railway stations and shopping centres already mapped out, the team was testing the water within the aviation sector and was hoping to trial the product at a British airport. Another GSE manufacturer, that of Airside, had on its stand the Australian Eagle Hoist, for which it is now an agent in Europe and elsewhere. This device permits the safe and easy manoeuvre of the PRM from the top of the passenger steps and so into the aircraft seat, which can be other than the traditional aisle position. The company’s Mike Cardy expressed his delight at the interest this small but pertinent piece of equipment had drawn and was looking to capitalise on the review 2007

GHI FEBRUARY 2008 37 many serious enquiries received. Indeed, the level of interest has prompted Airside to arrange a German roadshow with the Eagle, which will be implemented in 2008. Aside from this PRM aid, he was showing a film of the Airside Ambistair (no relation to the above-mentioned piece of equipment), which allows a wheelchair-bound PRM to ascend aircraft steps on a small platform. This is due to enter the marketplace early in 2008 and we hope to report on its progress in due course. Also due to go into production in the near future is the Aurora lift, which serves much the same purpose as the Eagle. First sighted at IATA’s Canadian event, in May last year, this US design also took booth space in one of the halls. Outside on the ramp was Aviogei: its new PRM boarding vehicle, the PED 11-30, is aimed at the regional airport although other airports had also expressed an interest, seeing the device as a cheap means to an end. Electrically-powered, the lifter has no emissions footprint but a diesel version is also available, if required. Finally, a powered stair climber from German specialist AAT was also spotted at the show. This, in fact, was shown on the front cover of the June 2007 issue of Ground Handling International, and it represents yet another means of transportation for the PRM faced with ascending (or descending) a set of passenger stairs. More new products The EasyDrop might sound like a budget carrier’s automated luggage check-in but is, in fact, a lightweight, fabric tunnel that can be suspended from a hatch or door to allow the quick egress of rubbish, luggage or even personnel. Not as frightening as it sounds, the tunnel’s tough fabric, which is similar to tent material, relies on an inbuilt spiral to slow the descent of anything inside, thus averting damage or injury. The concept, by Lufthansa Leos, isn’t overly complex, which is arguably a key to its adoption and indeed, it is already seeing service as an escape chute for use with control towers. Separately, and in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries, Lufthansa Leos has been conducting a study into Advertisement A11_2008, Ground Handling International, issue February 2008 Motiv SCHOPF „PowerPush“, 180 x 128 mm, non-bleed, 4c Tractors. Loaders. Stairs. And more. SCHOPF Maschinenbau GmbH • Parkstrasse 19 - 21 • D-73760 Ostfildern/Germany Phone +49 (0) 7 11 3 40 00-0 • Fax +49 (0) 7 11 3 41 10 87 • www.schopf-gse.com • schopfsale@schopf-gse.com Designed from the outset to cope with heavy civil and military More than 180 units sold worldwide! First choice for many air lines: SCHOPF PowerPush! A revolutionary, extre mely eco - nomical and simple to use push - back unit - remotely con trolled and operated by one person. .. Low capital costs .. Low manpower costs .. Low maintenance costs .. Low fuel costs ........ Ground