What is BS EN 12312-15 about?
BS EN 12312-15 is part-15 of a series on aircraft ground support equipment. BS EN 12312-15 discusses baggage and equipment tractors. BS EN 12312-15 specifies technical requirements to make baggage and equipment tractors safe to use. Following the guidelines minimizes hazards at the design, operation, and maintenance stages.
BS EN 12312-15 also specifies some requirements recognized as essential by authorities, aircraft, and ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers; as well as airlines and handling agencies.
BS EN 12312-15 is applicable to self-propelled baggage and equipment tractors with driver accommodation.
Note: BS EN 12312-15 does not apply to pedestrian controlled equipment.
Note: BS EN 12312-15 is not applicable to baggage and equipment tractors manufactured before the date of its publication.
Who is BS EN 12312-15 for?
BS EN 12312-15 on aircraft ground support equipment (baggage and equipment tractors) is useful for these entities:
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Ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers
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Airlines
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Airports
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Baggage and equipment tractor manufacturers
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Regulatory bodies / compliance authorities
BS EN 12312-15 on aircraft ground support equipment (baggage and equipment tractors) is useful for these professionals:
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Maintenance crew for aircraft baggage and equipment tractors
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Design engineers
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Quality control professionals
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Drivers of baggage and equipment tractors
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Ground staff at airports
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Baggage handlers
Why should you use BS EN 12312-15?
BS EN 12312-15 provides you with health and safety requirements for baggage and equipment tractors intended for towing equipment and baggage/cargo trailers to airports. When used at the design stage, BS EN 12312-15 lets you mitigate potential risks at the beginning of the process. As a manufacturer of baggage and equipment tractors, you would refer to the guidelines in BS EN 12312-15 to comply with safety regulations.
BS EN 12312-15, guides you in aspects such as weight distribution, wheel base, wheel tread, method of suspension, maximum achievable empty speed and overall centre of gravity height. This minimizes the risk of tractor tipping over.
By adopting BS EN 12312-15, you can demonstrate the reliability of your baggage and equipment tractors, and build trust in their use throughout the aircraft supply chain. Drivers and baggage handlers will be able to do a better job when they are aware of the specifications in BS EN 12312-15.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 12312-15:2020 supersedes BS EN 12312‑15:2006+A1:2009.
BS EN 12312-15:2020 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 12312‑15:2006+A1:2009. These include:
- Amendment A1:2009 was incorporated
- The Introduction and scope were updated
- New definitions for whole body vibration, SEAT factor, categories, restraint system, SIP (Seat Index Point) and OPC (operator presence control) were added
- List of significant hazards was updated to exclude hazards due to traffic and repair and was moved to informative Annex A
- Subclause 5.1, General requirements was changed to include stability and strength calculations and site operational requirements
- Subclause 5.2, Driver’s accommodation was completely revised and restraint systems/seat belts were added
- In subclause 5.3, Driver’s cabin clarification was given regarding the requirements for the intake of emissions
- Subclause 5.4, Seats has been changed and contains now further requirements for seats and a table giving advice for the selection of seats
- Subclause 5.5, Controls, monitoring devices and displays was changed and contains a more detailed clarification about the idle speed and the use of a deadman switch
- Subclause 5.6, Additional operating positions was updated regarding controls and contains now provisions for an interlocking system
- Sublause 5.7, Chassis and body was changed regarding fuel tank requirements and clarifications for the wheel position within the vehicle’s contour
- Subclauses 5.9, Vibrations, 5.10 Stability and 5.11 Options were added
- Subclause 6.2, Additional marking was updated to include a tolerance for the mass of the battery and marking for the operator’s seat
- Subclause 6.3 was updated to include instructions for the lateral restraint system and a declaration of exhaust emission values and whole body vibrations
- Clause 7, Verification was updated and contains now a tilting platform test
- Informative Annex A, Examples of typical baggage and equipment tractors was deleted and replaced by informative Annex A List of significant hazards
- Normative Annex C, Minimum space envelope for seated operator enclosure was moved to Annex B and renamed Seat operator enclosure
- Informative Annex D, Examples of couplings, was changed into informative Annex C, Whole body vibration
- A new informative Annex D, Recommendations for restraint systems / access gate was added
- Informative Annex D, Examples of couplings, was reduced to one example and changes to new informative Annex E
- Annex ZA referring to the Machinery directive 98/37/EC was replaced by Annex ZA referring to the new Machinery directive 2006/42/EC
- The Bibliography was updated