b'26 MCO BAGGAGE notes that airport officials selected the new tote-based systemAdditionally, each tote is equipped with RFID technology, for its lean, space-optimizing configuration, as well as its reliabilityallowing bags to be tracked and located from check-in to and enhanced ability to trace bags. The innovative system is alsodeparting aircraft, and from arriving aircraft to claim carousels. expected to save MCO operating costs and expenses associatedThis means the rate of mishandled bags is very low, stresses with lost or delayed bags.Apezteguia. We use scanners and cameras to make sure we Individual carrier systems like the one installed in the Southknow exactly where the luggage is every single moment, he Terminal are designed to bring uniformity to the baggage handlingadds. process and enable more reliable operations, higher speeds andWithout 100% tracking, bags are more prone to be misdirected greater throughput. Because each bag stays within the confinesand misplacedadding time and cost to the handling process. of its own carrier/tote throughout the handling process, the risk ofMoreover, if multiple bags of unknown status arrive at a checked damaged bags and disruption to the system is nearly eliminated,bag reconciliation area, more inspection space is required. says Apezteguia. With MCOs new system, cleared bags and alarmed bags can be mixed on the same line without risk of misrouting, because each bag is uniquely tracked with an RFID-enabled tote. That means, the system needs fewer bag inspection stations. You give back real estate and you give back people, and it just makes for much more precise security profile and delivery of baggage, Cox explains. Handling systems that use totes consume significantly less power, he adds. Variable frequency drives from Nord are inherently more energy-efficient, and the conveyor automatically shuts down when it is not carrying a tote. It only runs when it has the need to propel a bag, so the energy savings are dramatic, says Cox. The individual carrier/tote system in the new South Terminal is expected to be 45% more efficient than the traditional belt system at MCOs North Terminal. Tug operations are also reduced, saving maintenance and fuel costs, because bags are delivered much closer to the aircraft. Theres an energy savings benefit thats created by the way you change theoperation, Cox says. THE BAGGAGE CONNECTION. In terms of installation and maintenance,.he says the new belt system is superior to a traditional belt system. For example, if you were to try to replace a belt on a regular conveyor, youre probably looking at about an hour to an hour and a half of repair time, he Where is the suitcase? Complete transparency is required in therelates. On this system, its five minutesa transport chainalso according to IATA Resolution 753. Beingdramatic difference. familiar with airport infrastructures all over the world, SICK also offersThe frame of MCOs new system requires three technologies for baggage identification. So that every scan pointless real estate because all of its motors are is custom-fit. No suitcase gets lost, read rates increase, handover tucked underneath. That allows a much errors are quickly identified. Thanks to SICK, passengers are connect- thinner profile than most belt conveyors, ed to baggage at all times, and therefore, more than ready for theexplains Cox. future. We think thats intelligent. www.sick.com/baggage-trackingRegarding overall cost, Cox notes that airports spend more to procure individual carrier/tote systems, but their total cost May | June 2022AirportImprovement.com'