Types of Loaders Used as Ground Support

Ground support equipments are the most essential things for aerospace activities as it successfully operates aircrafts and other operations in both civil and military spheres. Basically, GSE (Ground Support Equipment) is found at the airport, usually on the ramp, the servicing area of the terminal. They are used to service the aircraft between flights. As the name shows, GSEs are there to support the aircraft operations while on the ground. This equipment performs ground power operations, aircraft mobility, and loading of cargos as well as passengers. Although, the major contributors of emissions in GSE are older units of heavier equipment like aircraft push-back tractors, aircraft cargo loaders, GPUs (Ground Power Units), cargo loading ramps, etc. These are the examples of different ground support equipments. Many GSE services are not directly related to the actual flying of the aircraft, they involve with the other service tasks. Some airline sub contract ground handling to an airport or a handling agent or to another airline. Ground handling involves the different ground support services required by the passengers at the arrives time from the terminal gate to the aircraft.

Aircraft ground support equipment includes a wide range equipment and vehicles used to service aircraft during loading and unloading of cargo, maintenance and other ground based operations. The wide range of activities performed by different ground support equipment such as activities undertaken during a typical aircraft gate period include; cargo loading and unloading, passenger loading and unloading, potable water storage, lavatory waste tank drainage, aircraft refueling, engine examination and maintenance, food catering, etc. However, airlines employ specially designed GSE to support all these operations. Some non-power equipment used to serve an aircraft. Chocks are used to prevent an aircraft from while parked, they are placed in the front and back of the wheels of the landing gear. They are made with hardwood or hard rubber. Baggage carts are used for the transportation of luggage, cargo and other materials between the aircraft and the terminal. Trolleys are specialized equipment to carry containers and pallets, this equipment is designed to carry weight.

Some powered equipments are Refuelers, Tugs and Tractors, Ground Power Units, Solid states, Buses, Cargo loaders and transporters. Refuelers are the self contained fuel truck. They typically contain up to 10000 gallons of fuel and have their own pumps, filters, hoses and other equipment. The tugs and tractors are used for several purposes, they are used to move all equipment that cannot move itself, including bag carts, mobile air conditioner units and air starters. Ground Power Unit, it is a vehicle capable of supplying power to aircraft parked on the ground. Solid state are the converter used to convert power from AC to DC along with current separation from aircraft power requirements. Buses at airports are used to move people from aircraft to terminal. Container loaders also known as aircraft cargo loaders. They are used for loading and unloading cargoes. There are different types of cargo loaders available such as 3.5T, 7T, 14T and 30T. They are produced in France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Japan, Brazil, US and China.

This article contains all the essential points about the aircraft cargo loaders. Here we mentioned all information about Ground Support Equipment and their services.

Miki Barzig is an author/writer, a Marine Corps veteran and a perpetual student of art, journaling and life. She has written for several national and trade publications and continues to build her library with her own publications.