DNATA Vehicle Used At Historic Heathrow Debut
25 May 2006
DNATA Vehicle Used At Historic Heathrow Debut
A Dnata Airbus A380-compatible towbarless aircraft
pushback and towing
vehicle was used during the historic
first UK landing of the new superjumbo at
London's
Heathrow Airport last week.
The Douglas TBL600 tractor
used in the A380's VIP Heathrow debut is one
of an
initial batch ordered by Dnata, ground handling operator at
Dubai
International Airport, and part of the Emirates
Group, which includes
Emirates Airline.
It was
diverted from delivery to Dubai to take part in the A380
event,
attended by Chancellor Gordon Brown and other UK
government officials,
which tested Heathrow's ground
handling facilities for the
giant
aircraft.
Manufactured by Douglas Equipment (UK)
in collaboration with Dnata and
Airbus, the TBL600 is the
first towbarless pushback and towing vehicle
designed to
handle the A380, which can weigh up to 600 tonnes
fully
loaded.
The technologically-advanced TBL600 was
first used by Dnata during the
visit of an A380 in
Emirates livery to the 2005 Dubai Airshow. It is
already
in service at Dubai and will be used for the A380 in 2007,
when
Emirates is expected to take delivery of the first
of its 45 superjumbos
on order.
Dnata collaborated
with Douglas Equipment and Airbus in the
vehicle's
development, using its experience and expertise
in ground support
equipment operation and maintenance.
The TBL600 is powered by a Cummins QSK19 engine that can
produce the 750
bhp required to handle the additional
weight of the A380. It
incorporates an
automatic
four-wheel drive system specifically designed
for A380 operations, and
is also capable of handling
aircraft sizes from the Boeing 767 to the
larger Airbus
340s and Boeing 747s.
In Dubai, it joins Dnata's existing
fleet of 11 TBL400s, a smaller
version which can handle
aircraft sizes up to the Boeing 747.
Dnata's Dubai Airport
Operations provides reliable, efficient
and
cost-effective passenger, cargo, ramp and technical
support services
with the help of skilled professionals,
a fleet of specialised vehicles,
and highly specialised
and advanced IT systems.
Certified to ISO 9001 (Quality
Management System), ISO 14001
(Environment Management
System), AHS 1000 and IATA AHM 804, Dnata
Airport
Operations is an industry pioneer of innovation and
service
excellence, and has established a global
benchmark in ground
handling
services.
Ends