Towable Vs. Self proppelled GSEs in Ramp
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Tehran
Towable and Self proppelled GSEs in Ramp
Dear All,
Could any body please tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of a Towable in comparison with a Self proppelled Ground Support Equipments like Air Starter Units etc. on the ramp?
Is there any Safety issue involved for selecting such GSE before purchasing?
If the self propelled one is more quickly accessed or operator friendly please discuss or give me more clues.
Quick reply would be appreciated.
Many Thanks and Regards for your kind attention and assistance.
Could any body please tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of a Towable in comparison with a Self proppelled Ground Support Equipments like Air Starter Units etc. on the ramp?
Is there any Safety issue involved for selecting such GSE before purchasing?
If the self propelled one is more quickly accessed or operator friendly please discuss or give me more clues.
Quick reply would be appreciated.
Many Thanks and Regards for your kind attention and assistance.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: London
Depends on your infrastructure,
I currently work with a Towable airstart but have had experience with a number of self propelled ASU's (air starter unit).
Depending on the airport, the tow-able unit will work out cheaper as the unit will not require an airport tax depending on your location, however is annoying to park up next to a 747 whilst the jet bridge is connected and the loading staff are still working on the front on the opposite side, which leads to the staff having to reverse in a narrow gap or wait until the aircraft has been fully loaded and potentially delay the aircraft. (A quick fix was to lengthen the hoses)
A tow-able ASU can be heavy and requires a fair sized tug to pull the ASU's around so we usually use a diesel tug specially for this, but that doesn't mean electric tugs cannot pull it. (In our case the tow eye is too big to fit onto our electric tug's latch which pre-dated the ASU)
The problems I find with any tow-able stock is that you have to find the "tow'er/tug" before you can get the kit to the aircraft, and depending on your airport, it could be in another terminal.
Drivable is great but it depends on the usage!
Pending you do a risk assessment and speak to the manufacturer, all tow-able equipment should reach health and safety standards, but its very hit or miss with ASU specifically as you can get really quite ones that just do airstarts and not aircon, some that are deafening that do both and finally you have the bottle air-starts that need to be recharged after every use.
Ramp staff if they had the choice would go for self propelled equipment every day! but being in the ideal world, air-start units are hardly used in comparison to other equipment so you have to look at the customers you handle and what their aircraft are like and if your ASU will be used much.
Some airports can be very small and parking is a big issue, so if you do have a towable unit please look at finding a drive in and out space to ease the ramp staff's time (all they want to do is grab a cup of tea!?)
Further into your question we also operate tow-able steps which will be required by the health and safety executive (UK) to be removed from the airport or electric motors to be installed to aid the operator, as this is one of the main causes for manual handling injuries other than bags.
Tow-able belts are again a cheap option but not ideal in a large airport or being used on larger aircraft as your staff will be constantly towing equipment to the stand, with a limited amount of tugs.
Tow-able pallet dollies can have their advantages but again depends on the infrastructure at your airport and if other handlers use lorries to gain access to the pallets.
I currently work with a Towable airstart but have had experience with a number of self propelled ASU's (air starter unit).
Depending on the airport, the tow-able unit will work out cheaper as the unit will not require an airport tax depending on your location, however is annoying to park up next to a 747 whilst the jet bridge is connected and the loading staff are still working on the front on the opposite side, which leads to the staff having to reverse in a narrow gap or wait until the aircraft has been fully loaded and potentially delay the aircraft. (A quick fix was to lengthen the hoses)
A tow-able ASU can be heavy and requires a fair sized tug to pull the ASU's around so we usually use a diesel tug specially for this, but that doesn't mean electric tugs cannot pull it. (In our case the tow eye is too big to fit onto our electric tug's latch which pre-dated the ASU)
The problems I find with any tow-able stock is that you have to find the "tow'er/tug" before you can get the kit to the aircraft, and depending on your airport, it could be in another terminal.
Drivable is great but it depends on the usage!
Pending you do a risk assessment and speak to the manufacturer, all tow-able equipment should reach health and safety standards, but its very hit or miss with ASU specifically as you can get really quite ones that just do airstarts and not aircon, some that are deafening that do both and finally you have the bottle air-starts that need to be recharged after every use.
Ramp staff if they had the choice would go for self propelled equipment every day! but being in the ideal world, air-start units are hardly used in comparison to other equipment so you have to look at the customers you handle and what their aircraft are like and if your ASU will be used much.
Some airports can be very small and parking is a big issue, so if you do have a towable unit please look at finding a drive in and out space to ease the ramp staff's time (all they want to do is grab a cup of tea!?)
Further into your question we also operate tow-able steps which will be required by the health and safety executive (UK) to be removed from the airport or electric motors to be installed to aid the operator, as this is one of the main causes for manual handling injuries other than bags.
Tow-able belts are again a cheap option but not ideal in a large airport or being used on larger aircraft as your staff will be constantly towing equipment to the stand, with a limited amount of tugs.
Tow-able pallet dollies can have their advantages but again depends on the infrastructure at your airport and if other handlers use lorries to gain access to the pallets.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Airport in D'Sun
I prefer towable over self propelled any day and I have used both.
ASU's are infrequently used and therefore towable versions are easier to maintain and far more ractical for daily inspections etc.
As already said reversing an towable ASU can be a difficult operation but I prefer to have a chocked towable ASU with an EBT (Electric Baggage Tractor) attached than have a high revving self propelled (PTO) unattended vehicle close to the Aircraft. Or if it has seperate engine and cab is switched off there is a chance of it not starting again on completion of the Air-Start.
Oh and another thing for us mere mortals..... Towable = Cheaper
Aircraft Steps are another item I prefer towable light weight versions which can be "hand manouvered" the last few feet towards the Aircraft...
We use TLD
Driveable steps and even with banksmen the chance of damage is higher than with the towable versions...
The moeny you save purchasing Towable equipment rather than self Propelled can be invested in purchasing more diesel and/or electric baggage tractors which are the bread and butter of the ramp operation...
Hope this helps
ASU's are infrequently used and therefore towable versions are easier to maintain and far more ractical for daily inspections etc.
As already said reversing an towable ASU can be a difficult operation but I prefer to have a chocked towable ASU with an EBT (Electric Baggage Tractor) attached than have a high revving self propelled (PTO) unattended vehicle close to the Aircraft. Or if it has seperate engine and cab is switched off there is a chance of it not starting again on completion of the Air-Start.
Oh and another thing for us mere mortals..... Towable = Cheaper
Aircraft Steps are another item I prefer towable light weight versions which can be "hand manouvered" the last few feet towards the Aircraft...
We use TLD
Driveable steps and even with banksmen the chance of damage is higher than with the towable versions...The moeny you save purchasing Towable equipment rather than self Propelled can be invested in purchasing more diesel and/or electric baggage tractors which are the bread and butter of the ramp operation...
Hope this helps
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: In bratty land
The money you save purchasing Tow able equipment rather than self Propelled can be invested in purchasing more diesel and/or electric baggage tractors which are the bread and butter of the ramp operation...
Not sure what side of the work divide you stand on argued ,
We use TLD
Drivable steps and even with banks men the chance of damage is higher than with the tow able versions...
I think to myself , who the trains your staff ??????? , i regularly remove tow able steps and drivable steps from A/C 757 -A380 without banks men , although i shouldn't , then it seems that you have Muppet's working for you or your Training is ......................pony airfield , equals pony contract ......., if lost in translation , pony trap = crap ....
Not sure what side of the work divide you stand on argued ,
We use TLD
Drivable steps and even with banks men the chance of damage is higher than with the tow able versions...I think to myself , who the
trains your staff ??????? , i regularly remove tow able steps and drivable steps from A/C 757 -A380 without banks men , although i shouldn't , then it seems that you have Muppet's working for you or your Training is ......................pony airfield , equals pony contract ......., if lost in translation , pony trap = crap ....
