Top Applications of Ground Support Equipment | Market Growth

Triton Market Research predicts the global ground support equipmen market to grow at a CAGR of 11.43% in the forecasted period 2022-2028. With the enhanced benefits offered by these equipment, such as convenience, reduced losses, and improved workflow, along with the surging customer expectations, their demand is at an all-time high.

Air travel is essential for various commercial and defense activities, and thus, airplanes are an important mode of transportation. Flight carriers across the globe are investing heavily in increasing their aircraft fleet sizes, which is majorly driving the GSE market growth.

Ground support equipment or GSE refers to the range of equipment used to facilitate the safe operation of aircraft between flights. It includes various powered and non-powered equipment to assist ground crew at airports, to help them prepare commercial and military aircraft to take off and land safely.

Growth of Aviation Industry – An Opportunity for enhanced GSE Adoption

Aviation provides the only rapid worldwide transportation network, and therefore, many new airports and terminals are being constructed. For instance, China has planned to build more than 200 airports over the next 15 years. A rise in spending on airport infrastructure, driven by the need to modernize aging facilities, is aiding the aviation industry growth. The United States has allocated a part of its $70 billion budget for renewing the infrastructure at more than 1200 airports, over the coming years.

In addition, low airfares across airline companies have spurred the growth in global air traffic. This trend is particularly observed in developing economies across the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. This increase in air traffic is expected to increase the capacity of ground support staff and equipment, in turn boosting the growth prospects for vendors in the ground support space. The enhanced capacity of GSE over the years can be seen with their growing usage in a number of applications.

Top Applications of Ground Support Equipment

• Passenger Service

Different types of passenger service units, such as boarding bridges, service vehicles, passenger stairs, passenger buses, etc., are used in aircraft to ensure passengers’ comfort and safety. The rising cross-border travel and surging air passenger traffic have increased the demand for passenger service equipment. Mallaghan, a leading GSE manufacturer, launched its new electric airport bus in December 2021. The all-electric bus, named Árbus, boasts of the longest battery range for any airport bus in the European market.

• Commercial Cargo Service

Commercial cargo service deals with the usage of ground support equipment like container loaders, cargo loaders, forklift trucks, etc. Such types of GSE are deployed in various cargo-carrying commercial aircraft, such as the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the Saab 340, and the Boeing C-17 Globe Master III, among others. The growth in e-commerce and the increasing partnerships for commercial cargo delivery are majorly contributing to the growth of the commercial cargo service market.

• Commercial Aircraft Service

Ground support equipment, such as ground power units, deicers, fuel trucks, pre-conditioned air units, etc., are used for servicing commercial aircraft. Using such GSE aids in pilot training activities and optimizing flight operations in these types of airplanes. Growth in the commercial aviation industry worldwide, rise in commercial aircraft deliveries & financing, the development of new commercial aircraft, and other factors are driving the market for commercial aircraft service.

• Military Cargo Service

Military cargo service refers to servicing military aircraft that carry and transport freight from one place to another by using ground support equipment meant for this purpose. Some of the major GSE used in military cargo aircraft include cargo loaders like military cargo loaders, airborne loaders, pushback tugs, etc. The increasing military expenditure globally, increasing focus on the development of new military aircraft, and government contracts for building them are some of the major factors fostering the growth of the military cargo service market.

• Military Aircraft Service

Military aircraft service deals with the adoption of ground support equipment for military aircraft designed for combat and non-combat. Equipment like ground power units, loading & transporting equipment, pushback tractors, airfield power supply solutions, hydrant trucks, and others, are majorly used in military aircraft service for supporting ground power operations and facilitating aircraft mobility. In January 2022, BAE Systems Australia signed a contract to support the F-35A Lightning II operations of the Royal Australian Air Force, by providing the necessary supplementation for the logistics and maintenance crew.

Advanced Technologies – Futuristic Growth:

The launch of fleet management services in GSE has enabled tracking airport trucks and cargo loaders when mounted on the equipment. Moreover, the emergence of wireless technologies in ground support equipment is expected to offer lucrative opportunities for growth over the forecasted period, as it offers real-time monitoring, thereby increasing the reliability of operation.

Automation is also expected to have a major impact on the productivity and efficiency of ground support operations. For instance, India-based IndiGo Airlines introduced automated solutions for its ground support equipment in 2020, at prominent airports in the country. The initiative helped reduce time by 90 minutes per flight and resulted in overall cost savings of nearly $2 million over a year.

As the growing adoption of advanced solutions in GSE helps minimize human error, reduce costs, and enhance airside efficiency, the aviation sector is expected to increasingly explore these technologies further, which promises a future for the ground support equipment market’s growth.

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