What Is Aircraft Ground Handling?

The services and equipment an aircraft needs when it is on the ground or parked at the terminal gate or hangar.

Types Of Ground Handling Services:

1. Ramp Services: It includes air marshalling—where the aircraft is guided into and out of the parking, towing with pushback tractors, water cartage and lavatory drainage, air conditioning, airstart units for engines, deicing, belt loaders, and baggage carts. Ramp services also offers wheelchair lift, passenger stairs, refueling, and hydraulic mules.

2. Passenger Services: These services are offered at the airport terminal that provides check-in counters, airline lounge access, transfer counters, and concierge. The attendants will meet the flight at arrival and at departure assist the passengers to board and close the flight. The attendants are trained to usher children and assist the disabled.

3. Catering: The service includes offering catering trucks and access to suitable cuisines. The food if prepared on ground, so it needs minimal service time in the air. The catering service also loads fresh foods, and unloads the untouched food and drink. The garbage is emptied out too.

4. Field Operations–Load Control, Communication & Flight Operations Services: The facilities include aircraft servicing units, preparation and distribution of flight documents, weight and balance calculations, transmission, reception, and notification of messages, communication and coordination between aircraft and ground services. The other services provided are flight permit, allotment of space at the airport, preparation of flight plan, and navigation information.

5. Representation & Supervision Services: Your link and contact between airlines and services provided mentioned above. Establishing and maintaining contact with local authorities for smooth passage with the services. 

6. Cabin Service: The service facilitates clean-up of the plane and stocking it with toiletries, magazines, and linen such as pillow cover and blankets.

Airport Ground Handling Equipment:

Tow-Bar: It is attached to a tractor that is used to tow any type of aircraft.

Push-Back Tractors: It is used to tow the aircraft and an alternative to tow-bar, but it is an expensive equipment—tow-bar and tractor put together.

Steps: This facility is available with or without canopy.

Forklifts: This is implemented for carrying freight that is placed on structural foundation called pallets.

GPU: It goes by Ground Power Unit—as the name suggests, it provides electrical energy that’s either mobile or static.

Loader: They can carry load of 3.5-14 tons and is mostly used for baggage containers.

Dollies: This facility is used to transport loose baggage, mail cargo, loose cargo carton, and over-sized bags from the aircraft to terminal or the sorting facility.

Belts: If the luggage is not packed in containers, then the belts are used for smaller luggage and cargo.

Transporter: They transport containers and also goes by transporteurs. 

Tractors: They help with the transport of containers.

Chocks: They are placed in the front and back of the wheels, so that the plane does not move when it is parked or in the hangar.

Aircraft Tripod Jacks: When passengers at the front of the plane alight, the tail becomes heavy and may droop or fall. So, the aircraft tripod jack is used to prevent the tail of the plane from falling. All planes do not need it, it is optional.

Refuelers: They come in different types—self-contained, hydrant truck, cart. The self-contained refueler can hold upto 10,000 US gallons of fuels and comes with filters, hoses, pumps, and other equipment.

Tugs: Tugs comes with tractors that are used to transport other equipment such as bag carts, lavatory cart, ASU, etc. They serve several purposes and is an essential equipment for ground handling.

Buses: This vehicle is used to transport passengers from the terminal to the aircraft.

Container Loader: They are also called K-loaders or cargo loaders. This facility is implemented to load and upload containers and pallets in or out of the aircraft.

Portable Water Trucks: They provide quality water to the aircraft. The water is protected from the external elements, when it is stored in the truck. It is fitted with a pump that is used for transferring water from the truck to the aircraft.

Lavatory Service Vehicles: The aircraft stores the waste and the lavatory service vehicles empty it out. It is then cleaned and disinfected with a mixture of water, known as the blue juice.

Catering Vehicle: The vehicle delivers fresh food and empties out unused food and drink.

Air Start Unit (ASU): This facility has a built-in gas turbine engine that provides high-pressure air to start the engine.

Belt Loaders: This vehicle comes with a conveyor belt and is station at the aircraft baggage compartment. It is used to load and unload the luggage and cargo.

Deicing Vehicles: The vehicle carries a special mixture that is sprayed with a hose on the aircraft. The mixture melts the ice, but also prevents ice from building up.

MUrgency Ground Handling provides these services and more for any aircraft. Sign up and we will arrange for the needful from the moment you land.

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