Aircraft Ground

Handling

SEATWORK (1/2 crosswise)

1. What do you mean by Ground handling?
2. Why do you think it is necessary to study this
subject?
3. Cite some importance of ground handling in the
airline operation.

Aircraft
ground
handling defines the servicing
of an aircraft while it is on the
ground and (usually) parked at
a terminal gate of an airport.

The major categories of ground

handling services are described
below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Cabin Service
Catering
Ramp Service
Passenger Service
Field Operation

Cabin Service
The primary aim of this service offering is to
ensure passenger comfort. While cabin cleaning
comprises the bulk of the effort, it also includes
tasks such as replenishing onboard consumables
(soap, tissues, toilet paper, reading materials)
and washable items like pillows and blankets.

Catering
Catering includes the unloading of unused food and
drink from the aircraft, and the loading of fresh food
and drink for passengers and crew.
Airline meals are typically delivered in Airline service
trolleys. Empty or trash-filled trolley from the
previous flight are replaced with fresh ones.
Meals are prepared mostly on the ground in order to
minimize the amount of preparation (apart from
chilling or reheating) required in the air.

Ramp Service
Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking
position (by way of aircraft marshalling),
Towing with pushback tractors
Lavatory drainage
Water cartage (typically non-potable for lavatory
sink use)
Air conditioning (more common for smaller aircraft)
Airstart units (for starting engines)
Luggage handling, usually by means
of beltloaders and baggage carts
Gate checked luggage, often handled on the tarmac
as passengers disembark

 Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo dollies and

cargo loaders
Catering trucks
Refueling, which may be done with a refueling tanker truck or
refueling pumper
Ground power (so that engines need not be running to provide
aircraft power on the ground)
Passenger stairs (used instead of an aerobridge or airstairs,
some budget airlines use both to improve turnaround speed)
Wheelchair lifts, if required
Hydraulic mules (units that provide hydraulic power to an
aircraft externally)
Deicing

Passenger Service
This includes services inside the airport terminal such
as:
Providing check-in counter services for the
passengers departing on the customer airlines.
Providing gate arrival and departure services. The
agents are required to meet a flight on arrival as well
as provide departure services including boarding
passengers and closing the flight.
Staffing the transfer counters, customer service
counters and airline lounges.

Field Operation
This service dispatches the aircraft, maintains
communication with the rest of the airline
operation at the airport and with Air Traffic
Control.

Air traffic control

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by
ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the
ground and through controlled airspace, and can
provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled
airspace.
The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent
collisions, organize and expedite the flow of traffic,
and provide information and other support
for pilots. In some countries, ATC plays a security or
defensive role, or is operated by the military.

Ground handling operations

1. Overview
We can distinguish two major types of ground
handling procedures which are designated as
either terminal or airside operations.

 First, we should define the whole range of

operations that ground handlers deal with. The
following list is an exhaustive for common
commercial flights:

Ramp services

Supervision
Marshaling
Start-up
Moving/towing aircraft
Safety measures

On-ramp aircraft services

Repair of faults, fueling, wheel and tire check

Ground power supply
Deicing, cooling/heating
Toilet servicing, Potable water, demineralized
water
Routine maintenance
Non-routine maintenance
Cleaning of cockpit windows, wings, nacelles and
cabin windows

Onboard servicing

Cleaning
Catering
In-flight entertainment
Minor servicing of cabin fittings
Alteration of seat configuration

External ramp equipment

Passenger steps
Catering loaders
Cargo loaders, mail and equipment loading

 Obviously, ground handling management has to

deal with very diverse tasks. Preferably, these
operations are performed simultaneously to
decrease ground time and thus to increase
aircraft productivity. Airlines pay at the most
part for the delays that their aircrafts experience.

 Therefore, they strongly emphasizes the timeefficiency of ground operations provided either
by themselves, or the airport authority or
independent companies. It makes the task even
tougher for ground handlers whose efficiency
relies on technology-advanced equipment,
coordination of staff and information support
systems.

2. Equipment
In terms of ground handling equipment, we
found out that available products are numerous.
It would not be very relevant to analyze
thoroughly every company with all their
products.

 The list below summarizes what equipment is

basically required:

 Tow-bars: they make it possible to tow a given

aircraft by a tractor which is clipped to the bar.
The main advantage is that you need only one
type of tractor to tow all types of aircrafts. The
main disadvantage is the high number of staff
required to fix the bar to the aircraft.

 Push-back tractors: it is a good alternative to

tow aircrafts as tow-bars are not always
required. On the other hand, these devices are
much more expensive than universal tractors
coupled with tow-bars.

 Forklifts: they are used to carry pallets

especially when ground handling operations deal
with freight.

 Steps: they are available with or without

canopy.

 GPU: these units provide aircrafts with electric

energy. They can be either mobile or static.
Therefore, GPU are used more and more often.
The energy source of mobile units is mostly
diesel.

 Loader: They are used to carrying heavy loads

between 3.5 and 14 tons. This can include
baggage containers.

 Dollies: Are used for the transportation of

loose baggages, over-sized baggages, mail bags,
loose cargo carton boxes, etc. between the
aircraft and the terminal or sorting facility.

 Belts: they are used mostly to carrying smaller

loads and baggage when they are not packed in
containers.

 Transporteurs/Transporters: they facilitate

the transport of containers.

 Tractors: they facilitate the transport of

containers.

3. Operational analysis
a. Layout of operations
As we can see on figure 7, ground handling is a
multi-task procedure. Since managers want to
save some money for the airlines they work for,
they endeavor to perform simultaneously as
many operations as they can.

 Legend: 1) Taxiway 2) Aircraft stand 3) Aircraft stand marking 4)

Aircraft stand clearance line 5) Aircraft clearance line 6) Movement
area jetway 7) Fuel hydrant pit 8) Parking space ground handling
equipment with height restriction 9) Parking space ground handling
equipment 10) Access/exit 11) Jetway

 Typical handling arrangement 747-400

passenger configuration

Non-powered equipment:
are used for the transportation of
Dollies
loose baggages, over-sized baggages, mail bags,
loose cargo carton boxes, etc. between the
aircraft and the terminal or sorting facility.

Chocks

are used to prevent an aircraft from moving

while parked at the gate or in a hangar. Chocks
are placed in the front and back of the wheels of
landing gear. They are made out of hard wood or
hard rubber.

Aircraft Tripod Jack

They are used to support a parked aircraft to
prevent their tail from drooping or even falling
to the ground. When the passengers in the front
get off an aircraft, the aircraft becomes tail heavy
and the tail will droop. Using the jack is optional
and not every aircraft need it.

Powered equipment:
Aircraft refuelers can be either a self-contained
Refuelers

fuel truck, or a hydrant truck or cart. Fuel trucks

are self-contained, typically containing up to
10,000 US gallons of fuel and have their own
pumps, filters, hoses, and other equipment.

Tugs and tractors

The tugs and tractors at an airport have several
purposes and represent the essential part of
ground support services. They are used to move
all equipment that can not move itself. This
includes bag carts, mobile air conditioning units,
air starters, and lavatory carts.

Ground power units

A ground power unit (GPU) is a vehicle capable
of supplying power to aircraft parked on the
ground. Ground power units may also be built
into the jetway, making it even easier to supply
electrical power to aircraft.

Buses
are used to move people from the terminal to
either an aircraft or another terminal.

Container loader
Container loaders, also known as cargo loaders
or "K loaders", are used for the loading and
unloading of containers and pallets into and out
of aircraft.

Potable water trucks

Potable water trucks are special vehicles that
provide reliability and consistency in the
delivery of quality water to an aircraft. The water
is filtered and protected from the elements while
being stored on the vehicle. A pump in the
vehicle assists in moving the water from the
truck to the aircraft.

Lavatory service vehicles

Lavatory service vehicles empty and refill
lavatories onboard aircraft. Waste is stored in
tanks on the aircraft until these vehicles can
empty them and remove the waste. After the
tank is emptied, it is refilled with a mixture of
water and a disinfecting concentrate, commonly
called 'blue juice'.

Catering vehicle
Catering includes the unloading of unused food
and drink from the aircraft, and the loading of
fresh food and drinks for passengers and crew.
The meals are typically delivered in standardized
carts. Meals are prepared mostly on the ground
in order to minimize the amount of preparation
(apart from chilling or reheating) required in the
air.

Air Start Unit (ASU)

An air start unit is a vehicle with a built-in gas
turbine engine which gives the necessary
quantity of high-pressure air to start the engine

Belt loaders
Belt loaders are vehicles with conveyor belts for
unloading and loading of baggage and cargo
onto aircraft. A belt loader is positioned at the
door sill of an aircraft hold (baggage
compartment) during operation.

De/anti-icing vehicles
The procedure of de/anti-icing, protection from
fluids freezing up on aircraft, is done from
special vehicles. A hose sprays a special mixture
that melts current ice on the aircraft and also
prevents some ice from building up while
waiting on the ground.

Ramp service
This includes services on the ramp or
apron, such as:
1. Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking
position (by way of aircraft marshalling),
2. Towing with pushback tractors
3. Lavatory drainage
4. Water cartage (typically non-potable for
lavatory sink use)
5. Air conditioning (more common for smaller
aircraft)

6. Airstart units (for starting engines)

7. Luggage handling, usually by means
of beltloaders and baggage carts
8. Gate checked luggage
9. Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo
dollies and cargo loaders
10. Catering trucks
11. Refueling, which may be done with a refueling
tanker truck or refueling pumper

12. Ground power (so that engines need not be

running to provide aircraft power on the ground)
13. Passenger stairs (used instead of
an aerobridge or airstairs, some budget airlines
use both to improve turnaround speed)
14. Wheelchair lifts, if required
15. Hydraulic mules (units that provide hydraulic
power to an aircraft externally)
16. Deicing

List of notable handling agents

worldwide:
ASIA

Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Airport Services
- Jardine Aviation Services
Japan
- All Nippon Airways
- Japan Airport Ground Handling
- Japan Airport Service Co.,Ltd.

 Korea
- Korea Airport Service
Singapore
- SATS Ltd
Taiwan
- Evergreen Airlines Service
- Taiwan Airport Service Co., Ltd.
Turkey
- elebi
-Turkish Ground Services

EUROPE
United Kingdom
- Aviance UK
- Aircraft Service International Group
- Menzies Aviation
Belgium
- Aviapartner
Lietuva/Lithuania
- Baltic Ground Services

 Sweden
- SAS Ground Handling

Switzerland
- Swissport
- Servisair

MIDDLE EAST
Dnata
Egypt Air Ground Services
Oman Air
Shaheen Airport Services

NORTH AMERICA
Mexico
- Kion de Mexico
United States
- DAL Global Services
- Envoy Air
- Regional Elite Airline Services
- Universal Aviation
- Worldwide Flight Services

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