THE SUITCASE
SLING
The Suitcase Sling – Value Proposition
The Suitcase Sling (Patent Pending) is a cargo loading apparatus designed to simplify luggage loading onto large cabin business jets, such as the Global 7500 and the Gulfstream series of aircraft. The Suitcase Sling was invented to address operational challenges associated with baggage compartment access through loading doors than can be up to eight (8) feet high. The Suitcase Sling System gives business aircraft servicing personnel a safe and efficient way to load baggage through external loading doors. The Suitcase Sling enhances safety and baggage loading efficiency. It is the only system available as “loose equipment”, allowing it to travel with the aircraft for use wherever the aircraft operates. Its low height, lightweight profile is minimally intrusive, allowing it to be stored in the baggage compartment, and its easy-to-operate system permits flight and ground crews to safely load and unload baggage.
The Suitcase Sling – The Need
The suitcase sling will be a certified product installed on the floor in the baggage area to assist external loading and unloading of baggage on large aircraft such as the Bombardier and Gulfstream series. In addition to physical limitations, (distance from the ground to the bottom of the baggage door on the new Bombardier Global 7500 is 96” or 8 feet), there are crew safety considerations. Lifting a 50-or 60-pound bag to eight feet can certainly be a challenging feat, even for someone in excellent physical condition.
Another important consideration and a design requirement is the suitcase sling will require a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for installation on the aircraft. This makes a big difference in the non-recurring costs and the requirements that we need to build and certify too. We have demonstrated the suitcase sling at the Gulfstream Maintenance & Operators meeting. It was accepted with overwhelming enthusiasm from the flight operations community. In addition, Gulfstream has verbally committed to including it on all new aircraft deliveries plus their Ground Support Equipment List (GSE List), and as part of the Gulfstream Options Catalog for Aircraft that have been delivered, with the one caveat that JANUS certifies the Suitcase Sling.
Market Size and Production Rates
The selection of the aircraft models for Suitcase Sling enhancement is dependent upon the height of the baggage door from the ground and if there is any other means of loading the baggage into the aircraft externally. A couple of operational considerations need to be highlighted. The first is that flight crews prefer to load the baggage area externally. Although the baggage area on most of the high end business aircraft is accessible through the cabin (forward of the pressure bulkhead and accessible during flight), it is not the desired way to load the baggage due to damage that can occur to expensive woodwork or leathers. In addition, the aisle ways are narrow and in some cases only meet the minimum FAR 25 requirement of 19 inches. On the case of the Dassault (Falcon models), a stair is incorporated into the baggage door. The stair is narrow and awkward and a safety violation could easily occur while lifting heavy bags and navigating the stairs to get the bags into the baggage hold.
We see a very conservative production rate to start, however as the concept catches on, we see increasing production rates from 10 – 15 in year one to matching the production rates of the Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft models produced annually (as a minimum), which would equate to approximately 20 per year, not including commercial, military or any other business aircraft models. This includes around 100 Gulfstream aircraft (including applicable models, G500, G600, G650) and a similar number of (100) Bombardier aircraft (Global 5500, 6500 and 7500). This does not include units picked up on the options list or for aircraft that are already in service.
Design, Engineering and Certification
To design, engineer and certify the suitcase sling, we are estimating six months from the launch (initial funding) of the program. The design and engineering of the suitcase sling will occur in two parts. The first is the detailed design of the unit itself. Establishing the design requirements is a critical step at the onset of the project and will be accomplished with an Integrated Product team, consisting of Designers, Engineers, Program Managers and Customers. Engineering will design, analyze and test a prototype in a Joint Definition Phase. The product will undergo the same stringent requirements and testing as any STC’d product must undergo. The Joint Definition Phase will establish the path to certification, plan the configuration, the engineering data and scope of the STC, production kit and maintenance requirements.
Testing will take two paths. First an Engineering prototype and a demonstration model, confirming the engineering and production kit. The second is the Installation into the STC aircraft. Ideally, to minimize non-recurring costs, our intention is to design a similar installation (structural, mechanical and electrical interface to the aircraft) for all models of aircraft. Post-STC activities will include the PMA, customer support, the marketing effort, continued airworthiness and continuous improvement on the product.
Quality Standards
With respect to the quality requirements, they will be outlined in the design requirements and part of the Joint Definition Phase. For now, we are comfortable working to the established standards of our manufacturing facility.