Guide to Airport Ground Equipment Basics

Understand the typical aircraft ground support equipment found at an airport

By George Angus

1. Aircraft ground equipment used in the movement of aircraft. An example would be the tug ground equipment used for aircraft pushbacks.
2. Aviation ground equipment that provides for the comfort and safety of the crew, such as ground-based generators to provide electricity to the aircraft when parked on the ramp.
3. Ground support equipment that enhances aircraft safety such as aircraft deicing equipment and aircraft maintenance equipment.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find images and descriptions of various types of aircraft ground equipment

Chances are you've seen a number of different vehicles buzzing around an aircraft parked at the gate. The function of some of these vehicles are obvious, such as the tug pulling a line of baggage carts. Some pieces of ground support equipment may look foreign at best. Review images of aircraft ground support equipment and their description to help identify which pieces of equipment are involved in the ground support of an aircraft at the gate.

I recommend: This list of products and services from Airport Technology has excellent descriptions and photographs of different types of ground support equipment. Victory GSE has a comprehensive product base of aerospace ground equipment complete with images and product descriptions.

Contact aviation ground equipment suppliers for specific product information

If you are considering the purchase of ground support equipment, touching base with a supplier is an important first step to discovering the type of equipment best suited to your operation.

I recommend: Omega Aviation has a simple contact form that allows you to select the type of information that interests you most. A comprehensive selection of different types of ground support equipment is available at Global Ground Support.

Get the latest news about the aircraft ground equipment industry

Becoming and staying informed about the latest news of the industry will help you to avoid the pitfalls of purchasing equipment with known problems. Keeping abreast of the news will also help to understand the basics of what is happening in the industry.

I recommend: A fine selection of recently updated news items is available from Ground Support World Wide. Airport Business is a single stop website for news related to all things related to airports.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact the airport manager for a local airport. Let them know your interest in the ground support equipment aspect of airport operations and ask if they will arrange a ramp tour or put you in contact with one of the air carriers that serve the airport. An up close and personal view of the equipment can provide insight into which types of aircraft ground equipment may best suit your needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use an airport ground equipment online search engine

Thomas.net can help you fill your aerospace ground equipment and aircraft deicing equipment needs.

I recommend: Thomas.net is an enterprise solutions company that can put you in touch with many smaller local ground support equipment businesses to fill your needs. You can run a search by state, or check out equipment available nationwide.

Look into the latest aircraft ground equipment technology

Check out the latest ground support equipment Leoni Studer has to offer. Airport Ground Equipment also has new aerospace ground equipment that gives you innovative solutions for your ever demanding passengers.

I recommend: Leoni Studer's AeroVironment is a fast-charging piece of equipment that safely charges your batteries in a quarter of the time of a conventional charger. Airport Ground Equipment features many new products including their All-Aboarder, a mobile unit designed for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory passengers; the Smart Lift elevator for baggage, strollers, and mobility carts; and their patent pending cargo lift.

Consider used aircraft maintenance equipment

Companies like Century GSE specialize in the buying and selling of used aircraft ground equipment and maintenance gear.

I recommend: Century GSE buys and sells airport ground support equipment, and they offer rental and lease options as well.

Go for airline ground equipment parts and hardware

Companies like Av-Tools offer you airport ground equipment parts, tools and hardware.

I recommend: Check out Av-Tools’ surplus aviation full part number list. They offer you aviation ground equipment parts and tools by specializing in the purchasing and selling of aviation surplus.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Airport-Technology.com is your go-to source for industry news. They can offer you products and services in addition to their industry information.
• •  When purchasing aircraft ground equipment, find out if the manufacturer or seller provides onsite training of the new piece of equipment.
• •  If you are purchasing used equipment, find out what maintenance and repair has been done to the gear before it is shipped to you, as well as ask about warranties.

Guide to Pricing and Costs of Airport Ground Equipment

How to obtain the best pricing for airport ground equipment

By George Angus

1. What kind of warranty is being offered with the purchased aircraft ground equipment?
2. What are the anticipated maintenance costs on an annual basis?
3. Do you have the support and maintenance staff in place to handle any maintenance issues that may arise?
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy new aircraft ground support equipment

For some operations, new airline ground equipment is the only way to go. If you can't afford to be without your aircraft deicing equipment for even one day, then you may want the peace of mind that a new piece of airline ground equipment offers. New ground support equipment prices depend on the particular type of equipment you may be seeking. Generally, you can only obtain prices on a quote basis.

I recommend: FMC Technologies is considered by many to be one of the world's top innovators in aerospace ground equipment. A good variety of basic ground support equipment is available from Mark C. Pope Associates.

Buy used ground equipment and save a bundle

A savvy purchasing department knows that with a little research, there are ways to save big money when buying large ticket items. One method is to consider the purchase of pre-owned ground support equipment. These sales are often enhanced by limited warranties or the company may make warranty contracts available for purchase.

I recommend: No matter what type of used ground support equipment you need, there's a good chance that Jetall has it for purchase. Aero Specialties has a large selection of used ground support equipment, including used beltloaders starting at $12,000.

Find outstanding deals on used airport ground equipment at an auction

There are a number of online auction houses that specialize in ground support equipment. The equipment available may be up for auction for any number of reasons, but you can bet that the price you pay at an auction will usually be significantly less than the current market rate. Many of the auction items are sealed bid only, so it pays to know the going price for both new and used equipment prior to bidding on an item.

I recommend: Whether you're a buyer or a seller, GSEmarket is an excellent starting point for ground support equipment auctions. Liquidity Services specializes in primarily Department of Defense items, but some of the lots have ground service equipment that may be perfect for your operation.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Several manufacturers may provide airport ground equipment products that perform very similar operations. Contact several manufacturers and get price quotes from each. Be certain to let them know that you are shopping around for the best price available.