Development of Automated Baggage Loading and Unloading System

Singapore, Singapore, September 28, 2015 (Newswire.com) - SAAS has been awarded funding by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), through its Aviation Development Fund, as part of the Aviation Challenge to develop a working prototype for the automation of baggage loading and unloading for narrow body aircraft in Singapore Changi Airport with minimal human intervention and oversight.

The aviation industry in Singapore is facing a manpower crunch. Labour-intensive areas such as ground-handling operations at Changi Airport are especially affected, in particular, the loading and unloading of baggage and cargo for narrow-body, non-containerised aircraft (such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737). Such narrow-body aircraft currently account for more than half of aircraft movements at Changi Airport.

The SAAS solution is an electric baggage stowage vehicle with an articulated feed controlled system and is designed to be autonomous ready. It serves to interface with the existing belt loaders and baggage carousels and to automate the process of loading and unloading bags.  

The proposed electric baggage stowage vehicle will address the “missing-links” in the baggage handling process. The solution will deliver significant savings in manpower requirements without the need to alter any existing baggage basement infrastructure.

“We have developed an innovative ‘outside the box’ concept based on our many years of experience in the GSE industry” said William Lee, SAAS Vice President – Business Development. “Narrow body aircraft such as the B737 and A320 require intensive manpower for their baggage handling. Given this invaluable green field opportunity, SAAS is well placed to take on the challenge and we look forward to working closely with all parties to ensure the concept will develop into a cost effective and productive solution.”

About SAAS:

Singapore Aerospace and Aviation Services Pte Ltd (SAAS) in one of the region’s premier suppliers of aircraft Ground Support Equipment (GSE). Our team has many years of experience in the airline and GSE fields. We provide our customers will efficient operational solutions which are cost effective.

Located at Singapore’s Seletar Airport, SAAS is ideally positioned to support our customers throughout South East Asia and Australasia. Collectively our team has over 100 years’ experience in the aviation sector.