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Pricing and Costs of Airport Ground Equipment

How to obtain the best pricing for airport ground equipment

By George Angus, Owner, Tumblemoose Productions
Aircraft ground equipment by its very nature can be one of the largest expenditures your company may ever make. It's important to know all of the facts and resources concerning the pricing and costs of airport ground equipment before opening the company checkbook. For new equipment, expect to pay anywhere from $17,000 for a ground power unit up to $475,000 for a large cargo loader.

Because it is such a large expense with price ranges depending on the piece of equipment, it's important that you have completed your research into finding the exact type of ground support equipment to best suit your needs. In addition to the actual costs of your aviation ground equipment, you should also consider:
  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?

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

  • 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.

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