Handling The A380 Aircraft

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.To accommodate the A380s wider and heavier nose landing gear and larger wheels and tyres, the new tractor is only 400 mm wider and approximately 900 mm longer than the current TBL 400. With its selectable two wheel, four wheel and crab steering modes it is very manoeuvrable and within the maximum permissible size allowed for ground support equipment at most international airports.The TBL 600 is designed for pushback, inter-gate and higher speed longer distance mainten-ance 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.For customers wishing to handle the A380 with a conventional tractor and towbar, Douglas also have a 70 t version of the four wheel drive, four wheel steer Douglas Tugmaster type DC12-44. 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.