Top Electric Ground Support Equipment at Airports: Enhance Efficiency
While many areas of aviation are radically changing with emerging technology and advances in technology, one area has continued to remain fairly low-tech by comparison: ground support equipment.
Ground support equipment has been stuck in more or less the same technical place for decades. This is not necessarily a bad thing; that same technology has worked well for decades, so why change it? Of course, not everything is the same. Gasoline engines have given way to far superior diesel engines. Diesel engines themselves are much easier to operate and especially start in cold weather (a serious topic since roughly three quarters of the U.S. deals with cold weather).
Should GSE be looking to the future or living in the past? Let’s take a look at where it is headed and see.
Introduction to Electric Ground Support Equipment
In most ways, an airport is the ideal environment for EVs to operate in. It is a controlled environment where the operator is rarely even more than a couple of miles away from a charging station.
Electric ground support equipment is changing airport operations with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. Now, there is nothing new about using electrical power on the ramp; it has been going on for a long time. But it was usually limited to electrical aircraft power from a power pit for the jets, or a small EV running errands.
But a lot has changed. EVs are better than they have ever been, with batteries lasting longer and providing more power when you need it. But that is only half of the equation. Electric power in EVs offers technological improvements and advances that could never be done with internal combustion engines.
One of the most exciting pieces of GSE and ground handling equipment to electrify is the stalwart airplane tug. Not only can you electrify a tug, but with that tug you can also make it a remote control vehicle, which a few manufacturers are doing with great success.
Baggage/utility tugs are also great candidates for EV replacement, especially when used in an MRO to move large components around shops and warehouses. For one thing, they are quiet. Also, no emissions which is a huge selling point for operators who will use them indoors (MROs, warehouses).
Probably the most interesting advance comes in the form of the Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) which are a remote control tug that is programmed to run a specific route at specified speeds and any other parameters the operator wants to. They are a great option for your operation to move engines, wings, and other structural airframe components through a manufacturing wing.
- Leading providers of electric ground support equipment are transforming the aviation industry with efficient and cost-effective solutions.
- Electric aircraft tugs, in particular, are gaining popularity for their ability to enhance safety and reduce costs.
Electric Aircraft Tugs
The piece of GSE that is one of the best candidates for electrification is the tow tractor, or aircraft tug. Tugs are one of the most commonly used GSEs on the ramp, and conduct dozens of pushbacks every day.
Also, they are one of the best ways on the ramp to reduce manpower. With a remote control tug you remove the tug operator altogether since the operator can also supervise. You can even remove wing and tail walkers since the remote can be operated from any position around the aircraft on the ground.
- Electric aircraft tugs are specifically designed to handle a wide range of aircraft types, from small light aircraft to business jets. Some tugs are rated for up to 400,000lbs, which put them in the same capacity as some of the largest diesel tugs. Only the largest widebody jets exceed these weights.
- These tugs are equipped with advanced features such as remote control systems, obstacle detection, and collision avoidance systems. Some tugs employ LiDAR for obstacle avoidance.
- Electric aircraft tugs optimize ground operations, reducing manual labor and increasing efficiency.
- They are also more environmentally friendly, producing zero emissions and reducing noise pollution.
Tail Draggers and Nose Draggers
Tail draggers are not common in commercial fleets anymore besides remote bush pilots and agricultural aircraft (crop dusters) which are informal tail draggers. However, the military still uses tail draggers in the Sikorsky H-60 helicopters, which are all tail dragger aircraft. Also, the Air Tractor AT-802 CAS aircraft is entering the fleet and is a tail dragger.
Towing a tail dragger is a lot different than a standard “nose dragger” tricycle gear airplane which is fairly easy to tow. Some tailwheel aircraft are towed from the tailwheel, while others use a special tow bar that spans between the main landing gear legs.
Several of the leading manufacturers of remote controlled tugs built their tugs to grade the tailwheels and push the aircraft from the back.
Remote Control Aircraft Towing Solutions
Remote control aircraft towing solutions are revolutionizing the way aircraft are handled on the ground. These are an incredible advance in technology and can reduce the tow team requirements down to just two people instead of the usual team of 4-6.
These solutions allow operators to effortlessly maneuver aircraft with precision and ease. Traditional tugs use a towbar to attach to the nose wheel area of the landing gear which creates two pivot points for tug drivers to deal with. The learning curve for towing aircraft is steep because there is a lot on the line, and it isn’t all the easy.
Remote control aircraft towing solutions are also more safe, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. The tow team supervisor is also the driver/operator, so he doesn’t have to communicate signals to the driver over a loud diesel engine. They are also completely quiet, so the tug operator can easily communicate with other team members. This is a major
They are also more efficient, reducing the time and labor required to handle aircraft.
Airport Operations and Efficiency
Electric ground support equipment is transforming airport operations, making them more efficient and cost-effective.These solutions are designed to optimize ground operations, reducing manual labor and increasing productivity.
Electric ground support equipment is also more reliable, reducing downtime and increasing availability, along with being more environmentally friendly, producing zero emissions and reducing noise pollution.
Safety and Security
The airport is one of the most risky work environments in the world, yet they consistently maintain high levels of safety and security.
- Safety and security are top priorities in airport operations, and electric ground support equipment is designed to meet these needs.
- These solutions are equipped with advanced features such as obstacle detection and collision avoidance systems, like LiDAR.
- Electric ground support equipment is also designed to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. Automatic stop features, or “kill switches” immediately halt the entire operation much faster than communicating an emergency stop to the tug driver and the brake operator in the aircraft.
- They are also more secure, with advanced features such as access control and authorization levels. These are incredible features that keep unqualified personnel from conducting one of the most dangerous ground maintenance tasks in the book. Is it routine? Yes. But that doesn’t eliminate risk.
Environmental Benefits
Electric ground support equipment is more environmentally friendly, producing zero emissions and reducing noise pollution. Noise pollution and the extremely negative consequences of it, are not talked about enough. Working an airport ramp around dangerously loud diesel GSE is exhausting and creates fatigue. You can’t get away from jet noise but it comes and goes; but you can reduce the constant drone of diesels which also stink.
These solutions are designed to reduce the carbon footprint of airport operations. Electric ground support equipment is also more sustainable, reducing waste and conserving resources. They are also more energy-efficient, reducing energy consumption and costs.
Making a Purchase Decision
When making a purchase decision, consider the specific needs and requirements of your airport operations. Electric ground support equipment is available in various models, each designed to meet specific needs and requirements.
Make sure to consider what you really need. For instance, the largest widebody aircraft may not have a remote control tug option, so that is out of the question. But those make up a fraction of overall flights since narrowbody jets are the bulk of flight operations.
Consider the cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of the solution. If your operation is only using the GSE occasionally, keeping older equipment well-maintained or even procuring high quality new and used legacy GSE might make more sense.
Procurement for Ground handling and GSE for the military
The advent of remote control tugs is a huge deal for the U.S. military fleet; it will revolutionize ground operations. What used to take five or six ground personnel can be done with two. Even when moving in and out of hangars, wing walkers can be removed because the operator can move back and forth to watch the wings and tail.
Partnering with Greenwood Aerospace for GSE procurement puts you in control. We have over forty years of experience in government procurement to build your GSE fleet.
Detractors of Using An All-Electric Fleet
Before we close out this article, though, we need to address some real detractors. While batteries and battery technology are making great strides, they still struggle with extreme cold. One example was from just a year ago when dozens of EVs were left stranded in Chicago during extreme cold. Another example was New York’s pilot program to use electric snow plow trucks, which failed.
In extreme cold, batteries not only don’t last as long but sometimes cannot function at all. This is a major design issue that will be ironed out in years to come, but it is a real issue now. It might mean that diesel backups have to be kept on location in the most extreme cold.
Parting Thoughts
The most useful piece of GSE to go electric is the aircraft tug, which has long been an internal combustion powered vehicle. Loud, heavy, and sometimes difficult to learn, a remote control EV aircraft tug is a great option for a lot of situations and locations.
One thing is undeniable: the direction of powered GSE is electric. When your military organization is ready to make the transition away from legacy equipment, we are here to help! Give us a call at (580) 762-2580 or email us at contact@governmentprocurement.com. Or you can start a quote online now!
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