Baggage Logistics:
Modular, Cost efficient, Safe & Reliable
This section describes a simple Baggage Handling System (BHS) as a proposal
for small and medium sized airports. Based on practical reasons only a low level
of automation is provided, thus making the system interesting for those airports
where baggage sortation can be performed manually. The complete system consists
of single modules with clearly defined interfaces to adjacent parts. The
advantage of that modularization is not only a division of the system into
dedicated units of reduced size and reduced complexity, but also the possibility
to develop the project according to the requirements. It is possible to build as
a first step the basic part of the baggage handling system and then to complete
it by successive extensions. This solution is backed by a vast experience on
Auto- Baggage Handling Systems accumulated during the last 30 years and
supported by the best knowledge and experimental bases on installations of this
nature that have been successfully implemented at National and International
Airports.
Design Outline
The BHS is very clearly arranged and consists of three main areas: ??the
Check-in area with a total of 40 Check-in desks in two islands incl. scales,
weighing- and transportation belts (final phase of development)
- the transportation and security screening area. All baggage entering
into the system must first pass the security inspection (100% Hold Baggage
Screening).
- After having succeeded this step the bags are transported onto make-up
carousels, from where they can sort them to the open flights.
- All bags entering the system are collected and transported to the
security area via two feeding lines. These lines have been provided with
high capacity, generating redundant performance.
- For the arriving area a total of three carousels (final development
phase), with loading bays at the apron side and loops through the passenger
area is provided.
Although designed for this particular outline, the system is based on modular
building blocks, so that it can be easily adapted to other building
configurations. A very similar system could be built for example for a building
which has the baggage handling right behind the check-in counters on the same
level and processes departing passengers
on level 1.
3-stage 100% Hold Baggage Screening
All bags entering the system are collected and transported to the security
area via two feeding lines. Both feeding lines have full access to the X-Ray
units for Level 1 and 2.
In the case that neither the automatic screening (Level 1) or an operator (Level
2) determine a bag to be "clean", this bag will be further inspected in level 3
at a high resolution explosive detection screening machine.
Depending on the results of Level 3 screening bags will turn either into a
"clean" status and conveyed to the sorting carousel or they will be kept to be
opened in presence of the passenger.
Modular system
The concept can be phased into different steps, starting with 12 Check-In
counters, one make-up carousel and two arrival carousels. (Approx. 1 Mio
Passengers) It can be gradually expanded with 20 and 32 up to the final
configuration of 40 check-in counters serving up to 5 Mio Pax. Until up to 32
Check-In counters (approx. 3 Mio Passengers) only one stage 1/2 scanner and no
Level 3 scanner is suggested for economical reasons. screening of suspicious
bags has to be done manually by trace detection equipment (sniffers).
Redundancy Concept
The entire system is designed so that the highest possible rate of redundancy
is achieved, avoiding bottlenecks and service disruptions if any single part of
the system fails.
