TBL 600 Towbarless Aircraft Towing Tractor Handles A380 Aircraft
08 November 2007
The first Douglas-Kalmar TBL 600 towbarless tractor designed for handling the A380 entered operational service with launch customer DNATA, the ground handling subsidiary of Emirates Airlines, in Dubai in January 2005. DNATA were therefore able to use the now well proven TBL 600 to successfully handle the Airbus A380 everyday during the recent Dubai Air Show where the aircraft made its debut in Emirates colours.
Emirates Airlines is the major purchaser of the A380 with 43 aircraft on order.
The TBL 600 is a larger version of the successful and well proven Douglas-Kalmar TBL 400 towbarless aircraft handling tractor that is currently in operation with airlines and ground handling companies in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and the Far East.
The design concept and mode of operation of the TBL 600 is similar to the six other towbarless tractor models in the Douglas-Kalmar range incorporating a conventional drive line and a similar aircraft nose landing gear cradle interface assembly.
CAN-bus technology is employed to electronically control the vehicles drive line functions and operation of the aircraft nose landing gear cradle inter-face. Together with its well proven electronically controlled 750 bhp Cummins QSK 19 or 700 bhp Caterpillar C18 engine, Clark 16000 series powershift transmission, electro-hydraulic steering system and GSM modem for remote trouble shooting, the TBL 600 is at the leading edge of technology employed in ground support equipment whilst at the same time utilizing well proven, well supported components and systems with excellent reliability and longevity of in-service life.
As an example many Douglas towbarless tractors in current operational service around the world are achieving 5,000 to 7,000 operating hours a year and many have completed well over 35,000 – 40,000 operating hours without major in-service problems or major component overhauls.
To accommodate the A380's wider and heavier nose landing gear and larger wheels and tyres, the TBL 600 is only 400 mm wider and approximately 900 mm longer than the current TBL 400. With its selectable 2 wheel, 4 wheel and crab steering modes it is very manoeuvrable and within the maximum permissible size allowed for ground support equipment at most international airports.
Although fitted with a larger and refined operators cab, the in-cab layout of controls and mode of operation is similar to the Douglas TBL 400, TBL 280, TBL 200, TBL 180 and TBL 50 towbarless tractors and many common components are used across the range. The TBL 600 is designed for pushback, inter-gate and higher speed longer distance maintenance towing operations with aircraft ranging from the A310 / B767 up to and including a fully laden A380 / A380F i.e. the same range of aircraft as the TBL 400 plus all versions of the Airbus A380.
Douglas-Kalmar towbarless tractors are to be found in operation around the world in the extremes of climate and the TBL 600 is expected to be equally popular with airlines and ground handling companies that will be operating and handling the A380. By adopting a well proven design concept similar to other models in the Douglas-Kalmar range, the TBL 600 is competitively priced, easy to maintain, and simple to operate. Maintenance costs and running costs have also been kept to a minimum.
Towbarless tractors eliminate the need for towbars by docking with and lifting the aircrafts nosewheel - utilising its weight for traction, reducing manpower requirements and reducing the number of tractors required. This together with the ease of operation provides airlines, ground handling companies and airport authorities with significant opportunities to reduce their operational costs and increase their operational efficiency.
For customers wishing to handle the A380 with a conventional tractor and towbar, Douglas also have a 70 ton version of the four wheel drive, four wheel steer Douglas Tugmaster type DC12-44. They have been producing the DC12-44 for many years and have now incorporated the option of a higher powered 400 kW (535 bhp) Deutz water cooled engine driving through a Clark 8000 series torque converter and powershift transmission producing a tractive effort of 500 kN.
Designated the DC12-600 it also incorporates the Douglas inter-axle differential, a vital and most important feature that enables the tractor to be in permanent four wheel drive whilst at the same time eliminating transmission wind-up and resulting premature driveline wear, reducing wheel slip and extending tyre life. The DC12-600 is available with a number of cab options including raise and lower forward cab and rear driving station, as well as an integral hydraulic jacking system.
