In this Buyer’s Assessment, Ivo Butijer, head of the Mechanical Department at Croatia’s Dubrovnik Airport, explains the value of Harlan tugs in use at the gateway
For a little background, can you tell us little bit about the scale of the GSE fleets you have in operation at Dubrovnik Airport please?
At our airport, we have:
3 air-start units
7 ground power units
30 towing tractors
8 self-propelled passenger stairs and 15 towable stairs
9 conveyor belts
3 lift loaders
2 potable water cisterns
4 lavatory cisterns
9 buses
3 handicap vehicles
7 push back tractors
6 firefighting vehicles
5 ‘follow me’ vehicles
About how many aircraft turnarounds would you handle at Dubrovnik each day?
During the summer season, depending on the day in any given week, we handle between 55 and 78 commercial flights, with between 10 and 20 general aviation flights.
And are these aircraft handled by independent, private sector ground handlers, or directly by the airport authority?
All aircraft are handled by ourselves – directly – by Dubrovnik Airport.
What Harlan GSE is in use at Dubrovnik Airport?
Dubrovnik Airport bought eight Harlan diesel towing tractors (tugs) in 1998 – they were all HTLPAK50SDWCN models. In 2006 we bought an additional six diesel tugs (four of the HTLPAZ40SDWDN model and two of the HAPVAZ30SDWDG variant).
In 2011, we bought two electrical HLE Harlan tugs and this year we are waiting on five HTLAPAK50 electric (lithium) vehicles and one electric HLE.
What would you say sets Harlan tugs apart, and makes them particularly valuable?
All Harlan tugs bought between 1998 and today remain operational and in good shape… some of them accounting for 10,000 working hours. Their Deutz and Cummins engines rarely have any problems, and in combination with the Ford C6 automatic transmission they operate without any problem.
All other aspects of the vehicle are also of good quality, making this tractor reliable for use; it rarely fails.
