Nashville order for JBT

JBT Corporation has announced that its JBT AeroTech business has been awarded a contract in excess of US$20m for the supply of gate equipment at the Metropolitan Nashville International airport.

The order, placed by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, includes 36 Jetway passenger boarding bridges, along with JetAire preconditioned air units and Jetpower 400 Hz ground power units. These gate improvements are targeted at Concourses A, B and C.

Boeing to cut 747-8 production

Boeing has announced it will cut the production rate of its 747-8 aircraft as a result of a currently weak cargo market.

In an effort to match supply with demand, from September the Seattle-headquartered manufacturer intends to halve the production of its aircraft from one per month to one every two months.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive, Ray Conner, said: “Global air passenger traffic growth and airplane demand remain strong, but the air cargo market recovery that began in late 2013 has stalled in recent months and slowed demand for the 747-8 freighter.
“While we remain confident in the 747-8’s unique value-proposition and an upcoming replacement cycle for late-model 747-400 freighters, we’re taking the prudent step to further align production with current market requirements.”

On a pre-tax basis at the segment level, Boeing Commercial Airplanes will report a charge of $885m as a result of the production slowdown.

Boeing executive VP of business development & strategy and chief financial officer, Greg Smith, added: “We are closely monitoring the air cargo market as we work to win additional orders to support ongoing future production.
“At the same time, we continue to aggressively drive productivity to lower costs across our production system to offset the current market challenges.”

 

New sorting platform announced

FAST Global Solutions’ container sort platform is designed to increase sorting efficiency for the parcel handling industry. Designed with a large deck (more than 800 square feet of sorting space, in fact), the platform gives customers space and maneuverability, without the expense of a fully automated system. An integrated engine powers a built-in light tower to keep the platform lit under any conditions while a hydraulic pump lifts and lowers the platform.

Workers can sort as much as 40,000 pounds of cargo on the 17 x 48 foot platform. Its 11 foot light tower uses two 1,000 watt, metal-halide floodlights so that workers can easily read labels in low light conditions to quickly move packages to the correct route for delivery. The hydraulic system allows workers to easily adjust the platform height, anything from 46 to 60 inches, so that loading and unloading can be performed easily.

The platform’s key components for safety also maximize efficiency. High handrails surround the platform to protect workers from falls, and when loading or unloading packages from a truck or a trailer, operators can speedily remove each handrail and secure it behind another section to keep it out of the way. A Morton Deck-Span Surface features diamond-shaped grating to reduce the risk of slipping while keeping the deck clear of snow and rain. On each short side, the CSP features a built-in ladder with two steps and a handrail for safe access to the platform.

The CSP has been built to withstand years of outdoor use. The entire platform features a hot-dip galvanized finish to protect it from corrosion in harsh environments and achieves a long-lasting, clean look. Customers can choose to have the entire unit galvanized or customize the look of the handrails, steps and towbar by selecting from US military grade powder coat color options. Additionally, bumpers around the perimeter help prevent damage upon contact with a truck, loading dock or other heavy object. The CSP’s easy maneuverability allows workers to move the unit to a convenient location for the loading and unloading of packages. Tug or tow truck operators can hook up to the CSP’s built-in heavy duty towbar to pull the unit precisely to where it’s needed.

For power, FAST offers a 20.4 horsepower Kubota diesel engine or a 480 volt three phase electric motor. Further, a 12 volt DC, two gallons per minute emergency hydraulic pump provides power in the event of an engine failure, allowing the platform to be lowered from operating height and moved to another location.

Contract agreement in sight

At the end of December 2015 Southwest Airlines reached an agreement with the union representing its ground operations workers.

The executive board of Transport Workers Union Local 555 reviewed the Agreement in Principle reached by negotiators and decided to conduct a ratification vote. A copy of the tentative agreement was duly sent to union members and voting is expected to begin this month.

The agreement is considered something of a landmark since it has taken four years to get to this stage. In fact, Southwest’s ground workers have not seen a new contract since 2009 and there have been several incidences of strike action in the intervening period as workers have expressed their discontent with the airline’s management.

The proposed new contract, if ratified, will include salary rises in excess of 20% over the life of the agreement for union members, in all classifications. If approved, this new contract will run for five years.

Hybrid the best of both worlds

LEKTRO has unveiled a new diesel/electric hybrid, the AP8850SDA-H. This hybrid model is the result of an accelerated development program to meet customer demands for a tug that can operate in areas that have a limited or unreliable power infrastructure, or for a vehicle that can continue operations in the wake of a natural disaster. Greater endurance has also been a factor in the equation.

The AP8850SDA-H allows the user to manually choose an all-electric operation like a standard LEKTRO, as well as operate with the diesel engine to preserve battery life and charge the battery bank. The diesel engine can also be set to automatically charge the battery once it reaches a certain level of depletion.

The tug has completed desert operations tests and underwent cold weather operations this winter.