The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects 7.2 billion passengers to travel in 2035, a near doubling of the 3.8 billion air travelers in 2016.

What does this increase in traffic mean for Ground Support Equipment (GSE)? As capacity expands, so will the need for more advanced strategies to manage larger quantities of ground handling equipment, personnel, and information.

Read five implications this increase will have on the Ground Support Equipment industry.

More turnarounds, more efficiency

In short, more passengers = more turnarounds. A turnaround is the amount of time it takes to unload an aircraft and perform any necessary services to prepare it for the next flight. This includes tasks such as:

• Re-fueling
• Unloading & loading baggage and cargo
• De-icing the aircraft, if necessary
• Cleaning the aircraft and re-stocking its items
• Push-back to and from gates

Every minute that an aircraft is on the ground, it is making fewer routes. An increase in traffic demands a quicker turnaround time, but not at the expense of quality.

This need for more turnarounds increases the need for telematics such as the Avro Tracker to ensure turnarounds are completed on-time, efficiently as possible, while providing a big picture view.

Telematic technology ensures that quality is not sacrificed during GSE operations, while providing a big picture overview.

More support

An increase in aviation traffic means that airline services will likely have to hire more ground support staff to help accommodate an increase in services.

An increase in staffing means that the need to monitor, track and coordinate staff will increase too. A telematics system like the Avro Tracker is a great way to monitor and enforce compliance among ground support staff, as well as the equipment they operate. Telematics ensures that safety checklists are being met in addition to improved operational efficiency.

Fostering a greener future

An increase in air travellers means that airline companies will likely have to purchase more ground service equipment to keep up with the increase. This equipment should be efficient, durable and green-friendly to help lower the carbon footprint in the industry (especially since an increase in traffic means the potential for more pollution!).

Green-friendly GSE options including opting for electric powered equipment rather than equipment that uses fuel, as well as equipment that is constructed from more environmentally-friendly resources.

Preventing unnecessary idling time of combustion engines is another way to foster a greener future in the growing aviation industry. Telematics technology like the Avro Tracker help to curb unnecessary GSE idling time with programmable features that allow the user to set an auto-shutoff when GSE is idling.

A need to stay competitive

With air travel projected to increase, airlines will get more competitive to secure the growing volume of passengers. Since ground support equipment is one part of aircraft operations, airlines and ground handlers will need top-of-the-line GSE equipment to remain competitive and provide smooth operations for travellers.

A few factors that distinguish top-of-the-line GSE:

• Comes complete with pre-managed maintenance services & telematics
• Constructed from durable materials
• Ergonomic functionalities
• Cost-savings and eco-friendly features.

Having top-of-the-line GSE ensures companies do not encounter downtime, which not only delays flights, but could end up costing thousands of dollars.

Opportunities for equipment pooling or leasing

With every industry expansion comes innovation. Opportunities for equipment pooling or leasing is an innovative way to access new equipment. Equipment pooling works essentially just how it sounds – two aviation companies share GSE with one another. For example –  if an airline uses a gate at an airport which another airline company also uses a few hours later, they can use equipment pooling to minimize the need to each purchase separate GSE.

Traditionally, a big reason why aviation companies may not consider equipment pooling as an option is they may feel there is a lack of accountability in terms of tracking. Luckily, with technology like the Avro Tracker, GSE can easily be monitored at all times. This includes features such as GSE location tracking and electronic ID check requirements before a GSE vehicle will turn on, and pre/post checklist questions meeting OSHA recommendations. In addition to the tracking and monitoring feature, there are contractual agreements between the sharing companies to ensure smooth operations and accountability.

Utilizing equipment pooling can also help to quicken turnaround times as the pooling means that GSE will be available at all times. This decreases the chances for flight delays.

GSE rental is another unique opportunity for aviation companies to keep up with the increasing traffic. Not only does renting GSE give companies the opportunity to test equipment before they buy it, but it allows for companies to have extra GSE equipment on-hand during peak seasons with higher traffic. Companies may require extra GSE at only certain times the year, giving seasonal rental an advantage over purchasing.

 

Avro GSE is part of the Saskarc family of companies.

We keep your GSE equipment and overall aircraft operations working efficiently and help our customers avoid downtime caused by old, outdated or malfunctioning GSE. We help customers modernize their fleet with advanced technology to maximize reliability, operational efficiency, and overall safety.

We provide GSE equipment service that is proactive, cost effective and designed for rapid problem response and resolution.