Tug4itsfastest:
"....1 man operating controls and hi-loader, 2 men to secure bins on dollies, same 2 to empty bags at belts and hopefully a man to put outbound bins back on to hi-loader.
You said you can pull bins out manually which is very true and takes a VERY LONG TIME. This is what you don't have for an easyjet turnaround...."
Hmmmm, we do it (did it, regarding myself) different. The total time to handle an aeroplane of equal size is more or less the same. But regarding the 737's time i spent out at the apron, where as on Airbus time i spent in the baggage sorting aera, and not on the apron. We had one guy for the cargobay, and the highloader. The other guy drives the bins from the loader to the dollies. Thats two! The guy who drives the bins into the baggage claim, comes from a different aera, and he secure the dollies (takes about 2 sek.) When the bins are out, only compartment #4/5 is left, but not much in there. So it takes two guys, at least that how we did it for 5 years, no problems at all. When we only are two guys (normally three) on the Airbus 319/20/21 we are flexible, since we donīt care who have to drive the bins into baggage claim, just as long someone shows up to drive them. That is a very flexible system since we can move from one plane to another in no time. I cannot understand why you say it is hard to pull the bins out manually...? This is where I mean that Airbus are ahead of Boeing. The floor in the cargobay on the A319/20/21 is flat and no holes to step into. The floor have hundreds of small golfsize balls, which the bins rest on. I can pull and push them with one hand, takes no strengh at all. That is not possible on the Boeing.
".....Airtours 767 "MC" caused serious injury to one handler because the hold system wasn't working.
Health and safety regulations were strictly followed and several workers refused to work on the a/c until it was fixed. I don't like pulling 1 tonne LD8's off an a/c, do you???....."
No, and I wouldn't even try, because its a Boeing, so it cannot be done...
Remember that the LD8 containers, are bigger than the ones used for the Airbus A320 series. The floor on the 767 prevent that the containers can move without the use of the on/off loading system. On the A320 that is possible.
"....Easyjet can't afford to risk more delays because of loading/unloading difficulties. They have to keep it simple ie. 737's.
But not the -800 cos its a f****r of a plane without a carpet!...."
Precise...!! They have to keep it simple, and go for the plane that spend time up in the air, not on the ground. Airbus please...!!!!!
(sorry for my spelling)