Airport Ground Handling (Introduction)

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. Cabin Service2. Catering3. Ramp Service4. Passenger Service5. 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.

CateringCatering 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 ServiceThis 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 time-efficiency 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: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. 

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:Refuelers•Aircraft refuelers can be either a self-

contained 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 tractors3. Lavatory drainage4. 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 carts8. Gate checked luggage9. Air cargo handling, usually by means of

cargo dollies and cargo loaders10. Catering trucks11. 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 required15. 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- Çelebi-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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