SubscribeAccording to the Kyoto Agreement, airports are required to decrease emissions. Airports around the world have to meet a maximum emission allowance that includes all traffic to and from the airport, by air and by land, including all vehicles on the ground servicing the aircraft.
Equivalent emission laws have been introduced in the USA and many airports are forced to go electric in order to reduce emissions.
Ground Service Equipment (GSE) driven electrically will help to reduce CO2 gases at the airport, in order to keep the level defined by the Kyoto agreement and equivalent emission laws.
The aviation industry is growing and despite it’s social and economical benefits, still has some negative environmental effects, in particular concerning emissions and greenhouse gases.
Therefore, the common challenge at airports is to overcome the high APU consume of 400 to 700 litres of jet fuel per hour, needed by all airplanes on the ground.
The APU
- produces compressed air for the air-conditioning and heating of the aeroplane
- produces electric energy (400 Hz) for the electrical equipment of the plane and
- uses the compressed air from the APU to start the engine
An APU is noisy and has low efficiency. Many airports in Europe have banned the use of the APU, in order to reduce noise and emissions from the airport.
In replacement, airports have to provide an adequate ground support system to airplanes with 400 Hz electric power, PCAir and potable water.
Cavotec Fladung has developed a “vehicle free apron approach” by introducing a tunnel concept for gate parking positions. Our concept is to move the GSE-working area from alongside the aircraft to reduce the anticipated turn around time of new large aircrafts.
Our innovative solution is based on technical pits, but also allows for a preferred tunnel solution.
The included services are:
- 400 Hz with up to 4 connectors out of one “Pop Up” Pit
- PCA with up to two hoses out of one “Pop Up” Pit
- Potable water supply stored at the rear side of the PCA Pit
- Lavatory servicing and blue water out of one “Pop Up” Pit
Our launch airport, where this new concept has been adapted, is Dortmund, a small international German airport. The technical tunnel solution has been designed and built, which means that most of the GSE services are produced straight underneath the aircraft
and delivered through “Pop-Up” technical pits.
The Cavotecsystem is easy to install, allows for low maintenance costs and is easy to be operated by staff.
The tunnel or technical pit is build to meet all traffic loads, including those of new large aircraft. The pits or tunnel is approx 1 m away beside the centre line and houses all technical
Service pits.
The Cavotec system is always upgradeable, can be accessed for maintenance when in use and provides more flexibility for the future.
