The personnel who drive aviation ground support equipment (GSE) are certain of two things:
1. No one every considers the equipment or the job even remotely as glamorous as actually flying or working on an airplane in any capacity
2. GSE is essential component to the successful operation of any airplane
Although around almost as early as the first flights of the modern era, the public and even the aircraft officers, actually know very little about ground support equipment including the diverse categorization and actual versatility of these pieces of airport equipment.
Aviation Ground Support Equipment: Categories
The number and types of aviation ground support equipment is quite wide-ranging. The list bellows gives an idea of the different types employed on a daily basis at the average American airport:
Baggage carts or tractors
Trolleys
Re-Fuelers
Tugs – Among the hardest working pieces of aviation ground support equipment. They push-pull or tug aircraft into position and into hangars for maintenance. They may also haul other items to the plane.
Tractors – This type of GSE often do the same as push-pull or tow tugs
Ground Power Units
Cargo/Container Loaders
Some of the GSE actually play more than one role at an airport. A baggage tractor, for instance, may fulfill another function as an airplane pushback or tug. This confusion leads to a simpler method to categorize aviation ground support equipment. This is according to function. As a result, some professionals classify the various GSE according to what they do or are involved in. In other words, GSE are described as falling into any of the three categories provided below:
1. Aircraft Mobility: GSE such as tugs and tractors that push, pull, drive and move aircraft around on the airport’s tarmac
2. Ground Power Operations: The power unit supply by either ground or mobile sources
3. Loading Operations: Refers to those types of aviation ground support equipment that helps load the planes e.g. baggage belts, baggage tugs, cargo loaders, potable water storage and loaders, and steps
Either method is capable of defining the types and roles of the diverse kinds of aviation ground support equipment.
Aviation Ground Support Equipment
Airports rely on the abilities of GSE to make sure the airport runs smoothly. They turn to tow craft and baggage tractors, among others to make certain the turnaround time is as fast and smooth as possible. From specially designed pieces of equipment to modified pieces, it is important to recognize the significant role that aviation ground support equipment plays in ensuring an airport – private, public or military, runs as smooth as any digital clock.