Strict cost-cutting measures, downsizing, consolidation and mergers, bankruptcy and outsourcing — all have been the lexicon for the past several years in the US and for nearly a decade throughout the aviation industry.
The bottom line — maximize profitability. But one good year for the global economy can also translate directly to the bottom line. In 2006 the global economy grew 4.25 percent, according to the OECD, led by a strong year in China and India and a crawling recovery in Japan.
Though that growth has become significantly drowsy this year, as we begin to wish 2007 farewell and anticipate 2008, many of you have been using a much different lexicon. For example, I have been hearing expressions such as “it’s been a banner year,” “can’t fill any more orders for 2007,” “the most successful year since 9/11,” or “in 2008, we can finally begin to resurrect industry issues such as safety and enviromental concerns.” Certainly a joyous way to ring in the new year.
With green being the new and popular color, as well as the focus of this issue, following is a note I would like to share from Ludovic Daden, product support manager, TLD, regarding the environmental outlook for GSE:
“The world is clearly running out of oil and gas, yet most people ignore the coming crisis. Aircraft and the ground support world have become so dependent on petroleum use, it’s hard to imagine how GSE will function without this fuel.
The most promising option is powered electric tractors, which offer several advantages over gas- or diesel-powered tractors. Electric motors can operate at more than 90 percent efficiency, while combustion engines are less than 15 percent efficient. Electric propulsion is ideally suited to high torque, slow-speed operations. Electric motors have only one moving part and require little maintenance. Internal combustion engines, on the other hand, have hundreds of moving parts and require a lot of maintenance.
Electric motors don’t idle, which saves energy. In addition, while the vehicle is going downhill or braking, an electric motor can become a generator and return energy to the battery. This process, called regenerative braking, further increases the efficiency of electric propulsion and cannot be duplicated using other technologies. Electric-wheel motors eliminate the need for an internal combustion engine, transmission and differential, allowing new options in the design of tractors. Mounting an electric motor in the hub creates a self-propelled wheel that can provide new levels of versatility and visibility.
The biggest obstacle to the performance of most electric automobiles is battery weight. Unlike automobiles, tractors depend on weight for traction, thus heavy, deep-cycle, lead-acid batteries that are inexpensive, recyclable and long-lived can be used to great advantage in an electric tractor.”
Apparently, thoughts about going green and ramp safety will be the “sugar plums dancing in our heads” for 2008.
Happy Holidays and as always, thank you for reading.
