2. Presentation Overview
1. Considerations when designing a
Baggage Handling System (BHS)
2. Departure Systems
3. Arrivals Systems
4. Specifying a System
5. Typical Project Timeframes and Team
6. Lifetime, Maintenance and through life
costs
7. BHS Controls
8. Case Studies
4. Why have a Baggage Handling System (BHS)
Why have a baggage handling system?
2 (Two) simple reasons
1. On Passenger departure
To take bags from passengers at check in, comply with
security regulations and transfer all bags to the correct
Aircraft in a quick and efficient manner.
2. On Passenger Arrival
To quickly reunite the passenger with all their bags
5. So what size of BHS does an Airport need?
The size and type of Baggage handling system is
determined by the following:
A. The Passenger numbers (existing and future)
B. Frequency and nature of Flights
C. The type of Terminal i.e.
Domestic and / or International.
D. Security requirements domestic and
International.
E. The project type i.e. A new or expanded or
redeveloped Airport
6. A. Passenger Numbers and Bag Size
Key to determining the BHS size is.
• The peak number of passengers now and in the
future.
• The nature and type of travel
• The anticipated number of bags per passenger.
• Typical size of bags (Standard Gauge bag)
7. Airport Size Definition
BHS Terminal / Airport Size broad definition
• Small less than 2million passengers per annum
• Medium between 2 to 15 million passengers per annum
• Large Greater than 15 million passengers per annum
8. Bag Sizes
As defined in IATA Airport development reference manual (9th edition)
Standard Gauge baggage
Length 450 - 900mm
Width 150 - 300mm
Height 400 - 750mm
Mass 10 - 60 kg
Oversize Baggage (OB)
Length 901 - 2500mm
Width 301 - 600mm
Height 751 - 1500mm
Mass 10 - 70 kg
9. B. Number and types of Flights
Domestic Flights
•Generally smaller planes
•Higher frequency
•Shorter check In times required
•Less tolerance for delays both at check in and arrivals
•Generally less checked in baggage
International Flights
•Larger Planes
•Less frequent
•Check in process starts earlier
•Greater number and generally larger checked in bags
10. C. Type of Terminal
Domestic Terminals
•Tend to be simpler in design and concept
•Require less dwell time for passengers
•Less retail space
•The passenger has less tolerance for waiting.
•Generally less security requirements
International Terminals
•Tend to have more complex in design and concept
•By nature international travel requires more time for passenger check
in and processing.
•More retail space and complicated terminal facilities
•The passenger has more tolerance for waiting.
•More security requirements
11. D. Security Requirements
Baggage Security needs to consider the following:
Terror protection, contraband prevention, general security and law
enforcement
•Local Laws and security
•National Laws and Regulations
•International laws
•The laws applicable to the final destination of the flight
12. E. The Project Type
There are different considerations depending on the type of BHS project.
New Terminal (Green Field)
•Opportunity to start design on a “clean sheet” of paper
•Opportunity to use the best and latest BHS technologies.
•Opportunity to save money through less staff and labour
•Opportunity to change work processes and become more efficient
•Easier Installation and commissioning of the BHS
Existing Terminal (Brown Field)
•Normally a requirement to use or modify either existing baggage system.
•Opportunity to improve the existing BHS
•With good design there is the opportunity to save costs
•More difficult Installation and commissioning of the BHS
17. The Bag Departure Process
Typical Bag Departure Process
The steps…….
•Step 1 Passenger Check In
– Bags Weighed
– Bags Tagged
•Step 2 Bags Transported
•Step 2A Bags Tracked
•Step 3 Bags Security Screened
•Step 4 Bags transported and Sorted to Flights
19. Departure Systems: Styles of Check In.
Inline Style.
•Simple and Typical for most airports
•Economic use of space for small to medium size airports.
•Most commercially economic
•Picture Here
20. Departure Systems: Styles of Check In.
Island Style
•Generally used in large Airports for high passenger numbers
•More expensive but is used to stop a terminal elongating.
•Requires a large check In hall space
21. Passenger Check In Conveyors
Types of Check In Conveyors
Static Scale.
Picture Here
Cost Low
Space Low
Labour High
Ergonomics Bad
Terminal Suitability Small
22. Passenger Check In Conveyors
Single Check In Conveyor
Picture
Cost Medium
Space Low
Labour Low
Ergonomics Good
Terminal Suitability Small to Medium
23. Passenger Check In Conveyors
Double Check In Conveyor
Picture
Cost Medium
Space Medium
Labour Low
Ergonomics Good
Terminal Suitability Medium to Large
24. Passenger Check In Conveyors
Triple Check In Conveyor
Cost High
Space High
Labour Low
Ergonomics Good
Terminal Suitability Large to Hub
26. Check In: Architectural Interfaces
Issues to consider in the check In area.
•There will be a need for Scale readouts on desks.
•Power to the scale.
•Control panels on desks (Stop/start switches etc.)
•Gap between desks
•Clearances between scales and desks
30. Baggage Transport From Check In to Airside
Baggage handling providers should be able to provide the full range of
baggage Handling transport conveyors.
Key Criteria for Mechanical Equipment:
•Simple slider bed Construction
•Well Proven track record within the Airport Baggage environment
•Reliable
•Modular and Compatible across the range
•Able to be expanded and modified in the future
•Use Airport standard conveyor fire rated belting
31. Baggage Handling Equipment
¾ Industry Averages for Baggage conveyor throughput
¾ Check In conveyors “rule of thumb” 1 bag per check In per minute
¾Typical Average conveyor line operate 1800 bags per hour (30 bags per
minute)
¾ Maximum peak 3600 bags per hour (60 bags per minute)
33. General Transport: Architectural Interfaces
Key Considerations for BHS
• Maintenance access and space
• Walking Space adjacent to conveyors for un jamming bags.
• Head clearance
• Dolly Clearance
• Clearance from adjacent services
• Ceiling and Floor loads
• Building Structure for hanging platforms and conveyors
41. Bag Tracking
Why do we need bag Tracking?
•To ensure that security screened bags are in fact verifiably cleared
•So bags can be sorted to their destinations if automated sortation is used
•To Allow for Baggage reconciliation in the baggage make up process.
Types of Bag Tracking.
Simple Bar Code readers 95% read rate
•Very low cost and universally used
Radio Frequency Identification RFID Claimed read rate 99.99%
•High cost per unit (5 cents each)
•Still waiting on industry standard
43. Manual Encode Station
When using Bar Code tags and read rate of 95% as 5% will not be read then…..
It is necessary to allow for a manual Encode station or
45. Baggage Security: Applicable Type.
There are many types and National codes for baggage security screening.
The applicable security practice for the Country, region or airport must be
used.
Some Examples………
46. National Security Codes
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
CT (#1)
automatic
machine
decision
CT (#2)
automatic
machine
decision
make up
carousel
make up
carousel
*ETD
manual
inspection
*ETD : Explosive Trace Detection (Handheld)
make up
carousel
47. National Security Codes
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Multi-view
automatic
machine
decision
make up
carousel
make up
carousel
CT
automatic
machine
decision
make up
carousel
Level 4
make up
carousel
Multi-view
operator
decision
Level 5
make up
carousel
CT
operator
decision
reconcile
with
passenger
48. National Security Codes
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Multi-view
automatic
machine
decision
make up
carousel
make up
carousel
Multi-view
2nd operator
decision
make up
carousel
Level 4
make up
carousel
Multi-view
1st operator
decision
Level 5
make up
carousel
*ETD
manual
inspection
reconcile
with
passenger
*ETD : Explosive Trace Detection (Handheld)
49. Explosive Detection Devices
Rapiscan 528
Rapiscan Systems
UK Department of
Transport (DfT) Accepted
5,000
750
2,500
990
816
802
1,003
2,003
4,344
1,650
MVXR5000
Rapiscan Systems
HI-SCAN 10080
EDX-2is
Smith Heimann
HI-SCAN 10080
EDtS
Smith Heimann
CTX 5500 DS
GE InVision
TSA certified
7,779
(1)
600
(2)
400
1,400
(1)
760
(2)
1,020
600
1,020
2,223
4,759
2,413
CTX 9400 Dsi
GE InVision
CTX 9000 Dsi
GE InVision
VIS-108
L3 Communications
Optional Algorithm
Turning - TSA centified
800
1,000
MVT-HR
L3 Communications
TSA certified
eXaminer 3DX
L3 Communications
Security Screening
Authority Acceptance
Weight
(kg)
Height
(mm)
Lengt
h
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Belt
RL
(mm)
Height
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Height
(mm)
Lengt
h
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Model
Make
Max. Baggage Size
Tunnel
Geometry
(mm)
Exterior Geometry (excl
maintenance area)
56. Types of Sort Systems
Types of Sort Systems is dependent on
• Terminal Size
• Number of bags to be sorted
• Number and frequency of flights
So Types of Sortation
1. Small to medium Size Terminal
• Manual from the end of a conveyor or Carousel
2. Medium to Large Size
• Automatic sortation
• Pusher type sortation
• TiltTray Sorter
59. Belt/Pusher Sortation
•Picture Here
•Lower investment cost
•System redundancy potential
•Turning radius is relatively smaller
•Lower power consumption, economy mode
•Common spare parts with main BHS system
•Ease of system expansion or modification
60. Tilt Tray Sortation
• Expensive
• Single point of failure
• Difficult to expand and modify
• High energy consumptions
63. Oversize Baggage
It is necessary to allow for oversize baggage.
Key points
• Conveyor is generally wider than standard 1200-1370mm
• The system should be as straight as possible and avoid curves if possible
• It will be necessary to allow for security screening
64. Transfer Baggage
Can be handled in 2 ways.
1. Small Terminals
•Generally handle Transfer baggage manually
2. Larger Terminals
•Injected bags into the system prior to security screening after manually
encoding
•Manually after security screening bags sent to a Transfer carousel.
Sometimes a dedicated security area on the ground floor.
66. Arrivals Systems
Key Considerations when designing an Arrivals System
•Number of arriving passengers and size of Aircraft.
•Size of bags typical of destinations
•Peak Arrival Times
•Passenger congestion in the baggage reclaim Area
•Passenger flow in the baggage reclaim area
•Noise
These factors will determine
•The type and size of Carousels
•The layout and configuration of the carousels within the reclaim area
•The carousel feed system
67. Arrivals Systems
Typical Bag Arrival Process
The steps…….
• Step 1 Passenger Arrives on aircraft
• Step 2 Bags Transported from Aircraft to baggage hall
• Step 2a Bags Security Screened (option)
• Step 3 Bags placed on Arrivals conveyor or reclaim Carousel
• Step 4 Bags picked up by passenger
68. Arrival System
Step 2a Arrival Baggage Security Screened
Generally very simple.
Generally manual processes
Usually Labour Intensive
So….
Normally consists of an EDS machine sited near reclaim
Carousel.
70. Baggage Reclaim Carousels
Reclaim Carousels.
Design considerations.
• Number of arriving passengers and size of Aircraft.
• Size of bags typical of destinations
• Peak Arrival Times
• Passenger congestion in the baggage reclaim Area
• Passenger flow in the baggage reclaim area
• Noise
74. Arrival Systems Reclaim: Carousel Options
Sloped Plate Type. (Inclined Dispenser)
•Suitable for remote feeds.
•Good for large bags
•Good for high density and large number of passengers
•Slightly more expensive than other options
•Can have a bigger footprint compared to other carousels
75. Arrival Systems Reclaim: Carousel Options
Crescent Plate Type. Pallet Loop
•Robust construction.
•Not generally recommended for remote bag feed
•Good for small to medium size airports
•Slightly more economic than other options
•small footprint compared to Inclined Plate
76. Arrival Systems Reclaim: Carousel Options
Overlapping Slat Type. Multipath
•Slightly Wider conveying width than pallet loop
•Not generally recommended for remote bag feed
•Good for small to medium size airports
•Slightly more economic than other options
•Small footprint compared to Inclined plate
77. Baggage Claim Devices vs. Aircraft Seat Capacity
1 feed 30 (9)
65 (20)
1 feed 30 (9)
60 (18)
75 (23)
25 (7.6)
50 (15.2)
100
1 feed 30 (9)
80 (24)
1 feed 30 (9)
75 (23)
105 (32)
35 (10.7)
70 (21.3)
140
1 feed 40 (12)
100 (30.5)
1 feed 40 (12)
90 (27)
120 (37)
40 (12.2)
80 (24.4)
170
1 feed 40 (12)
130 (40)
1 feed 40 (12)
120 (37)
150 (46)
50 (15.2)
100 (30.5)
200
2 feeds 30 (9)
170 (52)
2 feeds 30 (9)
150 (46)
200 (61)
70 (21.3)
130 (39.6)
270
2 feeds 40 (12)
235 (72)
2 feeds 40 (12)
210 (64)
255 (78)
80 (24.4)
175 (53.3)
370
2 feeds 40 (12)
270 (82)
2 feeds 40 (12)
250 (76)
295 (90)
90 (27.4)
205 (62.5)
420
Bag Off loading
length 1 or 2 feeds
Claim length
Pallet loop or
Multipath
Exposure to
Public
Bag off loading
length 1 or 2 feeds
Claim length
Incline
Dispenser
Exposure to
Public
Total
Length
Bag off
Offloading
length
Claim length
Exposure to
Public
Aircraft
Seating
Capacity
Remote Feed ft (m)
Incline Dispenser (Sloped plate)
Direct Feed ft (m)
Pallet Loop or Multipath
Assumptions
85% load factor
75 to 35% Terminations
Baggage ratio 1.3 per passenger
12.5 bags per minute per handler
79. Specifying a system & BHS Vendors
Q. When is the best time to get a Baggage Handling system supplier
involved in a project?
A. As soon as possible.
Q. Performance based or product based solution?
A. Generally a performance based solution is better however the
disadvantage to the airport is it makes it difficult to compare “apples
with apples”
Q. Should all vendors be pre-qualified?
A. Absolutely, all vendors should be able to demonstrate the completion of
successful projects of similar size to your project.
80. Specifying a system & BHS Vendors
Q. Should we engage a baggage Handling Consultant?
A. This depends on the size of the project, small to medium size projects
can be handled by a competent BHS provider
Q. What about Larger projects?
A. Again these can be designed by a experience BHS vendor but generally
it is also best to engage a consultant as part of the design team.
Q. Where can I find a BHS consultant?
A. Sadly they a few and far between. The biggest gap in industry knowledge
right now is in the area of security screening
83. Typical Project Times from Start to Finish
Start. Defined as Initial concept design in a designed building
Finished. Defined as handed over to the end user after
commissioning
Typical areas the BHS vendor does not have timeline control over
• Building design and iterations
• Finance for the project
• Staged Installation requirements
84. Typical Project Times from Start to Finish
So some very broad examples of time frames
¾ For a simple reclaim loop or small check In area
Start to finish time 6-8 months
¾ A small domestic terminal 1 to 2 million passengers per annum
Start to finish time 12-24 months.
¾ Medium size International Airport 5-10 million passengers per annum
Start to finish time 30-48 months
¾ Large International Airport 30 million plus passengers per annum
Start to finish time 36-60 months
86. BHS Lifetime
Generally Accepted Lifetime of a BHS is 10 or 15 years
Key to longevity, lower through life costs is:
• A Well designed layout in terms of conveyor/sub system duties
• Keeping BHS component suppliers to a minimum
• The use of variable frequency drives for stop/start conveyors
• The use of Economy mode type functions in large systems
• Well trained and Skilled Operational and Maintenance Staff
• Commonality of parts across the site
• A planned maintenance program
90. Control System Elements
What is a control system?
What defines it?
What does it do?
Conveyor control
Conveyor drive
Operator control panels
Bag Tracking
HMI panels
Safety Systems
I/f to EDS systems
I/f to GV, GS
94. Safety Systems
Guaranteed Safe Operation,
Electrical control
Safety Categories
CAT 1 Minor Injury
CAT 2 Minor injury
CAT 3 Chance of serious injury
CAT 4 Injury causing death
Emergency Stop Zoning
Independent Reset function
96. Bag Tracking
Head Conveyor A Tail
Photo Eye
Rotary Encoder
Head Conveyor B Tail
Photo Eye
Rotary Encoder
Conveyor B Tracking Model
Conveyor A Tracking Model
1 3 4
2 5
PLC – On the Belt Tracking
Belt Tracking
Bag Identification
