september2021 - 27

TECHNOLOGY
A shared use baggage system allows redundant
routes to balance the load between the
Computer Tomography X-Rays (CTX). This
reduced the number of CTX devices from 15 to
seven, which are needed for baggage screening.
Newer technology and a more efficient system
also means a 70 percent reduction in energy
usage by switching to an ICS baggage system.
The layout of the CrisBag ICS enabled the
airport to reduce tug traffic. The inbound,
transfer and outbound processes are handled
in the CrisBag system and located in the
baggage operational areas which are distributed
throughout the terminal boarding area
adjacent to the aircraft gates. Arrival baggage
is taken via tugs from a flight and delivered to
the inbound system infeed and the tug returns
with the outbound baggage for a different
flight. The totes from the make-up area are
returned to the main terminal building carrying
the arrival bags. This optimizes system
operation and increases capacity by avoiding
circulating empty totes.
The CrisBag System was chosen as part
of the Harvey Milk Terminal at SFO, which
replaced the old Terminal 1. The airport built
the baggage handling system and leased it back
to the airlines so it's just one system.
" The nicest thing about this project was
it was a design-build project where we were
brought on at the same time as the building
designers, " Delaney says. " It wasn't like a situation
where we were given a set of prints
that we had to comply with. We were workAll
bags are tracked with RFID tags on the CrisBag System, so it's
quicker to identify if a bag becomes missing along the process.
The integration of an Explosives Detection System (EDS) makes
CrisBag the first system to be certified by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) for in-tote baggage security screening.
ing hand-in-hand with Hensel Phelps in the
design-build teams from day one. "
SFO is completely certified to have bags
travel in totes throughout the entire screening
process, including when additional screening
is needed.
" What's quite unique about our system in
San Francisco is the operators can open the
bag while it's still in the tote, " Delaney says.
" In conventional systems they have to drag
the bag off of a conveyor belt onto a table.
You have to inspect it on the table. Then they
have to manually push it back onto a conveyor
belt. The TSA has had a number of workplace
injuries from lifting these 60-70 pound bags. "
The system went online in April 2020, with
the TSA able to test the system just before
shelter in place orders took effect in the San
Francisco Bay Area. The system is operational.
It is tested, signed off by TSA and airlines are
using it while the second phase of the building
is completed.
" Though the system came online in April
2020 with reduced bag volumes, the total
benefit has yet to be realized but efficiencies
are still occurring, " McCarthy says. " Traceability
of each bag is a huge benefit to airline
and airport operations. Reduced tug traffic
SEPTEMBER 2021 AviationPros.com 27
Photos courtesy of Beumer Group
http://www.AviationPros.com
september2021

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