Rusty equipment used for ground handling at the airport

Chennai: Rusty and rickety vehicles and equipment are used to do ground handling at Chennai airport. Most of the baggage trolleys, baggage and cargo loaders, pushback vehicles and other equipment are in bad shape.
Over 14 big and small private agencies carry out ground handling for around 16 airlines at the airport. Most of these companies have been using the same vehicles and equipment for several years.
These equipment need to be maintained periodically because they are parked in the open in the apron area and exposed to the weather. Unused equipment are also left to rust in the apron area.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) does not have a system in place to monitor the health of these equipment but prefers to wait for an incident to happen to take action. "We do not keep watch on these equipment. But take strong action if any incident happens," said a senior AAI official.
Sources said that except passenger shuttles all other equipment that were used close to the aircraft were in bad shape and have old-fashioned safety mechanisms that are inadequate. The box-type baggage trolleys pulled by tractors are rusting because they have not received a coat of paint for years. Similar is the condition of huge baggage loaders that are used to unload and transport baggage and cargo from aircraft to terminal.
22/04/11 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Apr 2011