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

38 FEBRUARY 2008 GHI aircraft towing, with a view to doing away with the cost of fuel and engine operation hours that typify today’s taxi-ing process. The TAXIBOT is a pilot-controlled towing vehicle, based on the modification and improvement of existing towbarless tractor technology. Ever since the RampSnake appeared on the apron, there has been a need for an equally efficient feeder arrangement. Enter FKI Logistex, which has come up with what could packages for pushback and de-icing operations, allowing new recruits the opportunity to practise in safety. With ramps evermore congested, it seems likely that other, similar products, will also be appearing in the marketplace. For Xinfa, a Chinese GSE supplier, InterAirport represented an ideal opportunity for drawing attention to the company’s extensive range of equipment. Of note was its electric baggage tractor: CE compliant, this carefully-designed tug can be employed both indoors and out on the ramp An array of GSE was on parade on Italy-based Rampini’s stand, including passenger stairs with an auto-levelling feature and which are towable or self-propelled. For the company’s Sergio Rampini, sales of the compact, towable wheelchair lift is a main focus. “This item is not that well-known in the marketplace and we feel that it is ideal for the regional airport,” he explained. “It’s cheaper than a standard Ambulift, too.” Once again, help for the PRM was on hand. Other innovative products included the Viessmann ICEWHEELER. Taking the concept of a refrigerated ULD to its logical conclusion, the German company has come up with a temperature-controlled box structure with double, cantilevered doors, which is mounted on a dolly. This can be programmed for any temperature, according to need. Speaking for Schopf, MD Hermann Brüggemann underlined the strong sales performance of the company’s product line and mentioned the innovative PowerPush, which has proved attractive to buyers seeking a cost-effective purchase. Besides that, both the F300 and F396 continue to sell well but he was not anticipating any move into the realms of hybrid or electric power. Sighted a couple of years back, and still going strong, the Power Stow Rollertrack conveyor system was highly visible – and working, in front of an appreciative audience. Martin Vestergaard is the brains behind the idea that owes more than a passing nod to the RampSnake. According to Timsan, the Turkish supplier that dates back to 1982, the event was a useful one for the company. Steady business was reported in terms of sales of its Ambulift, stairs and catering lift products. Finally, an update from ground power manufacturer Guinault. The company has been enjoying success in South Africa with its products and the latest continent to express an interest in its range is that of South America, more precisely Brazil. Sales have also been recorded in the Russian states, according to the company spokesperson. revolutionise the airport-to-loader part of the handling equation. The rather bland appellation of Automatic Discharge System conceals the engineering truth, which translates into a very clever application that begins with a tilt-tray sortation system inside the baggage hall. This feeds into a loading area where bags are slotted into specially designed carts, which are so built as to contain the pieces of luggage on different levels within boxes. A simple robot takes charge of the loading operation. These carts are then towed out to the RampSnake where, thanks to the tilting bodywork of the cart, the operator can easily remove the bags through nothing more complicated than gravity. These days it can make sense to pool resources, which was exactly the rationale behind the Contrac/ Goldhofer/ Trepel stand. A full display attracted the crowds each afternoon when a raffle was held; and some 1,200 black and white furry cows were distributed to an expectant audience during the course of the event… Incidentally, lead time for a Contrac bus these days is some two and a half months, and its transport is now being used at almost 20 UK airports. Interest in its CNG-powered bus is growing, too: environmentally-friendly, it is still able to accommodate up to 112 passengers and is equipped with six wide doors. GSE supplier update Falcon Aviation was able to confirm that it had secured an order from Madina Air Services at Metiga airport, Tripoli, for loaders, GPUs, pushback tractors and passenger steps. The equipment will be built by Weihai Guangtai. The same Chinese company’s GSE will also be stocked in the UK by Falcon, especially where fast-moving items are concerned. Other news centred on the delivery of eight Weihai Guangtai JS70 loaders to Jet2.com and the fact that Falcon’s DeicerPlane has been configured to accept dual fluids, in line with CAA/AEA recommendations. Falcon’s MD, Ian French, pointed to a dozen sales of the budget-priced de-icer in recent years. US manufacturer FMC Technologies was once again showing off the afore-mentioned RampSnake. Helpfully, KLM has just signed a contract for almost 40 of these interesting loaders, with options on more. FMC continues to push hard in the military sector and was able to report that it is seeing increasing numbers of former customers returning to its client list. Other products of note were its simulation offerings. Mindful of ramp safety, the company has developed simulation