Aircraft Galley Accessories

The equipment that moves

Galley inserts stay in the aircraft. Accessories do not. Trolleys, standard containers, drawers and trays are loaded at the caterer, delivered to the aircraft, emptied in the cabin, returned to the galley with waste and sent back to be washed and loaded again. They are handled more often, by more people and in more places than anything else in the galley, and they have to fit the galley of every aircraft they are loaded into.

Trolleys

Trolleys, also called carts, carry meals, drinks, items for sale and waste. They are built to one of two standards.

ATLAS trolleys

ATLAS is the most common standard, used by about 80 % of airlines. It is named after the carriers that originated it: Alitalia, TAP, Lufthansa, Air France and Sabena. A full-size ATLAS trolley is about 0.3 m wide, 1.03 m tall and 0.81 m long and weighs about 15 kg empty. A half-size ATLAS trolley is about 0.405 m long.

KSSU trolleys

KSSU is named after KLM, Swissair, SAS and UTA. KSSU trolleys share the height of about 103 cm and the width of about 30.5 cm, but are deeper: about 42.5 cm for a half size and about 85 cm for a full size.

Why the standard matters

The dimensions look close, but the difference is decisive. Galley bays are built to one standard, and accessories for ATLAS trolleys do not fit KSSU trolleys and vice versa. Before ordering, the standard of the trolleys already in service, of the galleys they go into and of the caterers who load them has to be confirmed.

Trolleys come in several working configurations: full-size and half-size meal trolleys, trolleys fitted with drawers, trolleys for bar and drink service, and waste trolleys that collect used trays and packaging during service.

Standard containers and drawers

Above the trolley bays, galleys have compartments for standard containers, sometimes called standard units. They carry cutlery, cups, dry stores, snacks, bar items and equipment that does not travel in a trolley. Containers are built to the same ATLAS or KSSU standard as the trolleys, so that they fit the galley compartments of aircraft on that standard. Drawers and inserts divide trolleys and containers into smaller compartments for particular items.

Trays and service items

Meal trays, tray inserts and the items served on them are sized to the trolley standard, so that a full load of trays fits a trolley without wasted space. Because every tray, cup and container is carried on every sector, weight is part of the specification for each of them, not only for the trolley.

Waste equipment

Waste is collected in waste trolleys and standard containers and, in some galleys, compressed by a trash compactor fitted as a galley insert. Waste stowage is part of the certified galley: on aeroplanes with 20 or more passenger seats, 14 CFR 25.853 requires galley structure, including the exposed surfaces of stowed carts and standard containers, to meet heat release and smoke emission tests.

Certification of carts and containers

Carts and containers are aviation parts. FAA technical standard order TSO-C175 covers galley carts, containers and associated components and adopts SAE AS8056, Minimum Design and Performance of Airplane Galley In-Flight Carts, Containers, and Associated Components, as its minimum performance standard, with FAA modifications. SAE ARP4171 sets out safety considerations for food and beverage service carts.

Accessories also have to stay put. Under 14 CFR 25.561, items of mass in the cabin must be restrained against emergency landing loads, including 9.0 g forward, which is why trolleys and containers are locked into their stowage by latches and retention devices whenever they are not in use. The wider regulatory picture is on the commercial aircraft galley equipment page.

Ordering aircraft galley accessories

Accessories are usually ordered as replacement stock, for a fleet change or when a caterer takes over a new airline contract. Include in an enquiry:

• The standard: ATLAS or KSSU.
• The item type and configuration: full-size or half-size trolley, drawer trolley, bar trolley, waste trolley, standard container, drawer or tray.
• Part numbers or manufacturer references, and quantities.
• The aircraft types and galleys the items must fit.
• Colour, branding and any documentation required.

For the powered units in the galley, see aircraft galley components. For the operational picture of loading and service, see airline galley equipment. The aircraft galley equipment list sets out the whole inventory, and the aircraft galley equipment guide explains the standards.

The products in our catalogue are marine galley equipment and are not certified for aircraft use. For ship and yacht galleys, see marine galley equipment.