Ground support equipment is a huge investment. Not only does it come with a cost, but high-stakes as well. Having efficient, reliable and cost-effective ground support equipment to seamlessly support your operations is essential for your operations to thrive and succeed.

We’ve created a guide to help you make the right decision when it comes to purchasing the best ground support equipment for your business.

Safety features & industry standards

The most important thing to consider when you are looking to purchase new ground support equipment is the safety features. There are many specific safety features for each piece of equipment when it comes to GSE. For example, all fuel transport and storage safety specifications are regulated by your country’s governing regulatory body. In Canada, this is Transport Canada. Be sure to check that any GSE you purchase is approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies, including the country(ies) your business may operate in.

For Truck Maintenance Lifts, in particular, ensure the unit meets the wind stability requirement deemed by your country’s regulatory body. In North America, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirement for Truck Maintenance lifts is a 90-mph wind stability.

In addition to the equipment itself, consider utilizing fleet telematics to safely monitor and manage your GSE. Fleet telematics ensure that only authorized users operate your GSE equipment, and enforce seatbelt use and speed control, among other features.

Taking advantage of additional safety options when purchasing GSE is always worth the investment. Examples of these options include safety lights, fire extinguishers and other optional safety indicators, depending on the equipment you’re purchasing. Being proactive is almost always more cost-effective than being reactive.

Pre-managed maintenance services and telematics

Purchasing your ground support equipment is only a part of maintaining strong ground support operations. Successful GSE operations go beyond just utilizing a fleet of modern, efficient GSE. It includes integrating preventative maintenance and fleet management systems to deliver increased efficiency, visibility and compliance, and reliability to your fleet.

All ground support equipment will require maintenance and upkeep throughout its lifespan. Many businesses do not have the internal resources for equipment upkeep. Choosing a ground support equipment provider that provides pre-packaged maintenance plans for your equipment can save you a lot of time of headaches when it comes to upkeep.  An unexpected breakdown of GSE can cause unwanted downtime and delays. Pre-managed maintenance helps to keep breakdowns from occurring, as well as gives you more time to focus on more critical aspects of your business.

When purchasing GSE, think of it as on piece to your success rather than a siloed purchase. Another complementary piece to your successful operations is a telematics system, like the Avro Tracker, to help you make the most out of your GSE and provide a proactive approach for maintaining your aircraft support equipment and extending the useful life of your GSE. This technology enables the monitoring, tracking and controlling of equipment to reduce cost, improve efficiency and ensure safety. With Avro GSE, customers get one year of the Avro Care and Avro Tracker with the purchase of powered equipment.

Product reviews & customer testimonials

A tell-tale sign of good quality products is their online reviews.

Aside from the product itself, be sure to look for customer testimonials or reviews from the ground support equipment company you’re purchasing from. If there aren’t any available on their website, ask for them to give you a customer recommendation. A reputable ground support company will have positive customer reviews of their services and products.

You can also review your GSE providers social media pages and look for any comments left by customers which may indicate good or poor customer service.

Value & features

Safety and good value are always paramount when it comes to equipment purchases. Other things to consider are features which will help enhance your business operations and align with your brand – ie environmentally conscious features, cost-savings features, etc. Here are a few features that you should consider when purchasing ground support equipment:

• Cost-savings features – for example, unintended idle shutdown features provided by fleet management technology
• Eco-friendly features – for example, opting for electric-powered baggage carts rather than baggage carts powered by diesel can yield considerable cost-savings
• GSE that is constructed from strong and durable materials, such as steel
• Ergonomic functionalities – for example, a baggage cart that has a torsion relief tow bar that when released, will not hit the ground
• Asset tracking features such as those provided by GSE fleet tracking telematics systems
• Ability for customizable features, if needed – for example, colour options to comply with your branding, etc.

Always keep in mind your business’s goals and strategy when shopping for new GSE; after all, you’re not just shopping for products, GSE has a wide impact in how your company’s ground operations will function moving forward. By choosing GSE with features that allow your company to operate seamlessly in a cost-friendly manner, you are choosing success.

Avro GSE provides complete aircraft and airport ground support vehicles and GSE equipment solutions to fixed-base operators (FBO), maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses, aircraft, airline, and general aviation customers across North America and worldwide.

 

Avro GSE is part of the Saskarc family of companies. Since establishment in 1991, Saskarc Industries has forged a solid reputation as an industry leading modular metal fabricator and site equipment supplier in Western Canada.

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.