AERO Specialties

Extreme summer heat has, unfortunately, become an increasingly dangerous reality in the past several decades. More unfortunately, that temperature trend doesn’t appear to be going anywhere but up. And airside ground crews can be particularly vulnerable to the dangers of extreme heat. They work outdoors for much or most of the day, often on heat-holding blacktop. Working with or near the heated engines of aircraft tugs and dozens of other running pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) doesn’t help either.

Dealing with the heat isn’t just an issue of being uncomfortable for those ground crews either. It can interfere with work, costing quite a bit of money and passenger time, but most alarmingly, it can endanger the physical safety and even lives of crew members and those who work around them. The following is a brief overview of some of those risks and ways in which members of those crews, and those managing them, can mitigate those risks.

The Risks and Consequences

Among the more common risks accompanying working in extreme heat are sunburn, dehydration, and heatstroke. Sunburns aren’t just a stinging inconvenience. Severe ones can result in second and third-degree burns, extensive blistering, swelling, and severe pain as a result. There’s also the risk “sun poisoning,” which is like a nasty flu—a fever and chills, dizziness, bad headache, nausea, and dehydration. Sunburns can also significantly increase the risk of skin cancer.

Dehydration and heatstroke are not just dangerous; they can be deadly. The symptoms of heatstroke match those of sun poisoning but also include confusion, disorientation, and staggering; losing consciousness; rapid heartbeat and rapid, shallow breathing; seizures; and organ failure, which can lead to death. While those are all dangerous and harrowing on their own, the risk of someone experiencing confusion and disorientation or losing consciousness while driving an aircraft tug, for instance, can put hundreds of thousands of dollars and the lives of others at risk.

Solutions and Precautions

Thankfully, there are a number of fairly simple precautions that can significantly reduce the risk of any heat-related illness or injury. Many of them are common sense, but nevertheless worth repeating: Crew members should always have access to water and they should have access to shelter featuring air conditioning where they can cool off. Implementing basic safety features on-site, including access to water and cool shelter, is an inexpensive way to prevent what can prove to be incredibly costly and dangerous injuries and damage to not only people but also to GSE and aircraft.

Crew members should, of course, be trained on how to deal with working in extreme heat and how to avoid heat-related health issues. Along with being familiarized with the location of water, shelter, and the importance of hydration and cooling off intermittently, the training should include the appropriate gear for working in heat. Sunscreen should always be worn when working in the sun. Their clothing should include a light hat and sunglasses. And while it may seem counter intuitive, it’s better to wear light but long-sleeved shirts and pants under the sun. Long-sleeved clothing protects the skin from direct exposure to the sun and results in the wearer being cooler.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has become one of the most respected and trusted names in the aviation industry in a number of ways. For one, they employ cutting-edge innovation to produce and provide ground support equipment (GSE) that incorporates the most recent and practical technology in the industry. In addition to this technological advancement and innovation, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their employees—whether they’re mechanics, on the sales team, or customer service—are entirely familiarized with all of the GSE they offer to better serve their clients. AERO Specialties has everything an aviation business requires, from their ultra high-performing aircraft tow tractor line to their massive selection of GSE manuals.

Ensure your aviation business has best GSE and accessories from AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2MZu40H

Communication is absolutely vital for any business’s efficiency, success, and often, safety. That’s doubly true in the aviation industry and with airside ground crews. It’s easy to see how communication failures involving personnel operating multi-ton aircraft tugs hauling multimillion dollar airliners can have some incredibly dire consequences. Unfortunately, the importance of communication is so often cited it can fade into the background and not be proactively discussed, improved, and implemented. Thankfully, there are ways to improve that communication and safety among ground crews and other aviation personnel.

Importance and Benefits of Improved Communication

In case the benefits, and necessity, of effective communication aren’t clear, they include more efficiency, better productivity, and a far safer work environment. And all of those things can mean more money. After all, the more efficiently work gets done, the more of it gets done. Efficiency also preserves fuel, reduces wear on vehicles, and has any number of other peripheral benefits. And while far and away the highest priority of a safer workplace is that people are not getting hurt, the reduction or elimination of accidents can also save an enormous amount of money.

Communication During Stressful Events

As mentioned before, the last place anyone wants a communication breakdown is one in which someone is hauling millions of dollars and thousands of tons with an aircraft pushback tractor. And that communication is particularly crucial during high-stress situations. Unfortunately, that’s also when good communication is most vulnerable. There’s no magic bullet for ensuring that a ground crew maintains consistent communication during stressful situations. It’s simply a matter of training and more training. Airside personnel should be given as many specific responses to specific issues as possible and that training should be consistent and updated.

Wireless Headsets

Some of the communication fixes are simply a matter of having the right gear. In another one of those aviation ironies, an airside environment is one in which communication is of absolutely critical importance. It’s also an environment characterized by roaring jet engines, screaming props, often dozens of running engines in big ground support equipment (GSE) vehicles, and the like. That makes unenhanced verbal communication tough. However, outfitting a crew with wireless headsets both solves that problem and provides noise-cancelling protection. It allows for real-time communication and allows hands to remain free.

Organizational Technology and Strategies

Among the most important tools for improving airside communication is organizational technology. One feature of aviation organization that can be overlooked is emphasizing not only communication within a ground crew but communication between a ground crew and any other crews operating for other airlines or in other sections, and personnel from the airport itself. An example of a more communication-forward approach to the work done by airside ground crews is the increasing popularity of GSE pooling. It requires communication and cooperation between ground crews, and that’s paying off. Implementation of cooperative strategies and the exchange of useful information between different crews and personnel sections increases efficiency, saves time, resources, and money, and improves the travel experience of the passengers.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has become one of the most respected and trusted names in the aviation industry in a number of ways. For one, they employ cutting-edge innovation to produce and provide ground support equipment (GSE) that incorporates the most recent and practical technology in the industry. In addition to this technological advancement and innovation, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their employees—whether they’re mechanics, on the sales team, or customer service—are entirely familiarized with all of the GSE they offer to better serve their clients.AERO Specialties has everything an aviation business requires, from their ultrahigh-performing aircraft tow tractor line to their massive selection of GSE manuals.

Ensure your aviation business has best GSE and accessories from AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2IFie6t

A commercial aircraft being grounded unexpectedly, even for a few minutes, can cost airlines thousands of dollars, mess up schedules, upset passengers, and spin off into a series of additional problems and expenses. Some delays and groundings are unavoidable, of course, but the last thing any airside ground crew wants is to be the cause of a plane being grounded due to ground support equipment (GSE) failure. Even more serious is the prospect of GSE failure on the ramp leading to not just delays or groundings but damage to aircraft tugs and other GSE or aircraft, or, worse yet, injuries to ground or flight crew, or even passengers. That’s why taking any extra steps to fully ensure that GSE is running reliably and efficiently is always worth it.
Meet the Maintenance Schedule

It’s probably no surprise that the most effective way to guarantee that GSE remains in good working order is to be vigilant about the maintenance schedule. Anyone who has worked as a mechanic or maintained any complex machinery is well aware that a little bit of upkeep and maintenance now pretty much always saves far more work and expense down the road. Scheduled maintenance work is also a great opportunity to review maintenance protocols with and train up GSE maintenance personnel.

Checking Connections and Linkages

This covers some real broad territory, including any GSE from an aircraft tug to a ground power unit, but the point of failure on machinery is often the connections, securing parts, and mounts. Those include electric wiring, connections, and sensors; the clamps on intake hoses and exhaust pipes; battery terminals and cables; and engine mounts. Spot maintenance for those could be anything from confirming solid connections or linkages, spotting bare or frayed spots in wiring, and certifying cleanliness and tightness.

Paying Attention to Moving Parts

Once again, the area covered by “moving parts” is considerable. But like connections, mounts, and linkages, moving parts are more prone to failure and malfunction than static ones. Fans are vulnerable to failure, as are belts. Keep an eye on accessory belts, fan belts, and any other belts that aid in the operation or actuation of machinery. Check belts for their tightness, be sure they’re properly situated, and check for cracks. Check fans for looseness, wobbling during operation, clanking noises, or anything else that could indicate a problem.

Weather Maintenance

Seasonal weather shifts and the conditions present during those seasons can prove a significant contributor to GSE problems and failures. Predictably, extreme weather conditions—the most intense heat in the summer and most severe cold in the winter—are the hardest on GSE. Many of the most critical weather-related GSE threats can be, at the very least, reduced by some basic preparation and maintenance. Remembering to switch the GSE’s oil to winter weight is a good example.More generally, in both extreme heat and cold, be adamant about keeping everything maintained, whether that means it needs to be tightened, greased, or connected. And be sure to keep all of the fluids topped off. Keeping tires inflated is important in winter and summer, and really, the rest of the year too. During the summer, pay close attention to the function of the coolant systems and the tires of GSE and aircraft. The ramp can heat up significantly, enough so it has the potential to accelerate a tire’s wear over time.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has established themselves as one of the most innovative producers and providers of ground support equipment (GSE), and a whole lot more, in the aviation industry. They have also committed to incorporating the latest, most practical, safest, and most user-friendly technological innovation and advancement. AERO Specialties also ensures that their entire team—whether mechanics, customer service, or sales—are thoroughly familiarized with all of their GSE. AERO Specialties has everything your aviation business needs, from a high-performance aircraft tow tractor line to a massive collection of GSE manuals.

Learn more about the industry’s best GSE from AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2Ju2Yv7

Imagine working in an environment where hundreds or thousands of vehicles, ranging from cart-to truck-sized to nearly a million pounds, operate every day. As even a brief period of inactivity or lateness can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, all of those vehicles are being operated with as much haste as (hopefully) is deemed safe. The environment is further bombarded with the roar of huge engines and hazy with their exhaust. Given all this it’s likely chaotic and necessarily high stress.
Of course, that’s exactly the environment in which thousands of airside ground staff and aviation personnel work in every day. And since every indication suggests that rates of air travel are going to continue increasing, it’s likely only going to get busier, more congested, and more chaotic. Airports and ground support equipment (GSE) producers, however, are hard at work making sure that for the average baggage handler or aircraft pushback operator, in the airside of the future “busier” doesn’t equal more dangerous.

Automation of GSE

The benefits of automating GSE are obvious. Removal of operator-error reduces accident rates enormously, improving safety and saving money. Computer mapping and then following of routes by GSE and aircraft increases efficiency significantly. In addition to saving time and reducing congestion, greater efficiency means far less fuel used. Less fuel burned is less money spent, less emission of greenhouse gasses, and less wear on the vehicles.The automated GSE and craft still require programming as flights will be late, coordination will still be needed, and repairs and adjustments will always be necessary, and so forth. All this means that human beings won’t be replaced by automation, just made safer.

Partial Automation of GSE

There are some situations in which direct human intervention or operation is still necessary, in which case partial automation can be hugely helpful. A great example of this is the SiPsHitch™ Linear Monitoring System from GSE producer AERO Specialties. Available installed on new equipment or as a retrofit for existing aircraft tugs and other GSE, the SiPsHitch™ system monitors and records stress and force levels during aircraft tows. If those levels approach or exceed safe levels, the operator is alerted. Systems like this can save a great deal of money by avoiding accidents and potentially allowing preferential insurance rates.

Clean, Renewable, and Alternative Energy Sources

It’s pretty widely agreed that the writing is on the wall for the future of power production. Fossil fuels are not an infinite resource butare a significant producer of greenhouse gasses. Being finite means that the price of fuel will only go up. The trend toward GSE powered by cleaner, greener, and renewable energy sources has already begun.

Electric GSE is being introduced at airports around the world. And thin-film solar power system producer Hanergy recently collaborated with TAM-Europe to produce a fleet of solar-powered airport shuttle buses. Their initial goal is to have captured a significant portion of the shuttle market in the more sun-drenched airports of southern Europe, the Middle East, and along the equator by 2020. And an airport with less noise, exhaust, and fuel expenditure is one everyone can look forward to.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has established themselves as one of the most innovative producers and providers of ground support equipment (GSE), and a whole lot more, in the aviation industry. They have also committed to incorporating the latest, most practical, safest, and most user-friendly technological innovation and advancement. AERO Specialties also ensures that their entire team—whether mechanics, customer service, or sales—are thoroughly familiarized with all of their GSE. AERO Specialties has everything your aviation business needs, from a high-performance aircraft tow tractor line to a massive collection of GSE manuals.

Learn more about the industry’s best GSE from AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2VZRjek

By any standard, the aviation industry is incredibly important. According to research, from driving aircraft tugs to selling duty-free gifts, the aviation industry generates well over 10 million jobs directly and supports many more indirectly. The world’s airlines transport more than 4 billion people and 62 million tons of cargo and freight every year. And altogether, it produces and contributes over $2.7 trillion to the global gross domestic product. That’s 3.6% of the entire planet’s GDP. A considerable percentage of the rest of the world’s industries and economies rely on the quick and efficient transport of people, goods, and technology.
And when tourism and tourism-supported jobs are included, how much of the global economy peripherally relies on air travel is anyone’s guess. There’s no question about how undeniably crucial the aviation industry is for the health and growth of our economic, technological, social, and recreational pursuits. However, there’s a feature of the airline industry that’s far more important than any financial consideration: The safety of passengers. And one of the potential chokepoints of possible passenger injury is on the ramp, in and out of aircraft.

Keeping Passengers Safe Outside of Aircraft

Optimizing Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and Vehicle Use

For the most part, passengers are only going to be on the ramp outside of an aircraft when they are walking to or from the terminal to or from an aircraft. It’s generally easy enough for someone operating an aircraft tug, or taxiing in an aircraft, but with over 4 billion human beings a year (and counting) traveling by air, there is simply going to be more GSE and passengers in the same space. This makes it all the more important for GSE use to be scheduled, organized with telematics, coordinated with the airport and all the airlines to optimize GSE and vehicle use efficiency and safety.

Avoiding Passenger Injury From Aircraft

Unfortunately, aircraft present a passenger-injury risk beyond collisions. Injuries can be caused by propellers, jet blast or efflux, and even excessive noise. Jet efflux in particular can knock people over, into each other and objects, and blast objects and foreign object debris (FOD) in the direction of passengers. That risk can be mitigated with well-marked paths between terminal and aircraft, one that obviously doesn’t pass closely to running engines or propellers. If the route is too long or too circuitous, consider shuttling passengers to and from terminals and aircraft. Of course, remove any path-markers after use and any other FOD or obstructions.

Keeping Passengers Safe Inside of Aircraft

The most serious risk to passengers inside aircraft still on the apron is the risk of fire. The risk of fire is particularly pronounced during refueling. Refueling errors resulting in spills, striking sparks, and static charges igniting fumes are all risks. Ensure that all refueling technology and GSE is up to date, appropriately maintained, and used cautiously by trained crew. And make sure that the flight crew is familiar with every aircraft’s exits and that they’re aware of any passengers with mobility issues.

Minimizing Passenger Risk From Collisions

Ensure that passengers remain seated whenever an aircraft is moving. Good communication and cooperation between airlines, flight crews, and ground crews operating GSE and otherwise is critical to avoid collisions between aircraft and other aircraft or GSE. In unusual circumstances, like an unplanned evacuation of terminals or aircraft onto the ramp, establish training protocols and make sure all flight and ground crew are familiar with them.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties is well-established in the aviation industry as standard-setting innovators and thought leaders. Due to their commitment to leading-edge research and technological advancement, their ground support equipment (GSE) and associated aviation equipment is recognized throughout the industry as meeting and exceeding the highest standards of quality and reliability. That same dedication is responsible for their ensuring that the whole AERO Specialties staff—from sales and support to the mechanics—are given thorough training on all of their GSE and the roles and responsibility of airside ground crews. From their aircraft tow tractor line to GSE manuals, AERO Specialties can meet every one of your aviation business’s needs.

Discover everything you need to help your aviation business take flight with AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2UJLJft

The transport of dangerous cargo by air—be it undeclared or responsibly prepared, declared, labeled, and accounted for—is no small undertaking. Air transport of dangerous cargo is accompanied by a number of specific challenges, some of them unique to aviation. One of them is the great diversity and range of what’s considered dangerous cargo.
Much of it seems obviously hazardous: explosives, powerful acids, extremely volatile accelerants and fuels like gasoline, and radioactive and fissile material. It can be far less cut and dry however, with some thermometers and anything else containing mercury, as well as nail polish, nail polish remover, a whole gamut of aerosol sprays, and virtually all batteries and anything with them (particularly lithium batteries) qualifying as dangerous goods.

Additionally, if anything does go wrong with dangerous goods during flight, a fire for instance, it’s not like an aircraft can just pull over to the shoulder and wait for the fire department. That dynamic is among the reasons why it’s so important for airside ground crews to be prepared for the safe handling and transportation of dangerous cargo.

Ensuring Compliance with Regulation

Freight handlers and anyone else working on a modern airside ground crew know the work involves a lot more than filling lav carts and driving aircraft tugs. An example of that increased complexity is the compliance and regulation requirements for the shipping and transport of dangerous cargo. Ground crews are subject to the requirements of one or more of the FAA-overseen hazardous material requirements (HMR), the IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (IATA DGR), the ICAO’s Technical Instructions (ICAO TI), and airport, airline, and crew-specific regulations. While that may seem like a lot of rules, ensuring that a crew is thoroughly trained up on regulations and compliance is an effective way to reduce the risk of injury to crew or damage to aircraft and cargo.

Collaboration and Communication Is Important

The digitizing of information is making communication and collaboration between the entities and agencies involved in air transport far more efficient and in most cases, much easier. But, however well-established the communication and air cargo (dangerous or otherwise) supply chain communication infrastructure is, today’s aircraft pushback operator still needs to be familiar with and trained up on its details. At every link in that chain, including the shipper, airline, freight forwarders, group handlers, and any other airside ground crew, express integrators, etc., dangerous cargo should be tracked and the next link informed of its presence.

Training to Recognize Unlabeled or Mislabeled Dangerous Cargo

Finally, while it’s impossible for anyone, ground crew or otherwise, to spot every unlabeled or mislabeled piece of cargo that contains dangerous goods, there are some warning signs that can indicate an increased likelihood. Those include specific kinds of packaging, countries of origin with less robustly enforced regulations, labeling that seems suspicious, etc. For the safety of the crew member, their coworkers, and everyone on the aircraft the cargo is being shipped on, having an aware, alert, and educated ground crew on the lookout for dangerous goods just makes sense.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties is well-established in the aviation industry as standard-setting innovators and thought leaders. Due to their commitment to leading-edge research and technological advancement, their ground support equipment (GSE) and associated aviation equipment is recognized throughout the industry as meeting and exceeding the highest standards of quality and reliability. That same dedication is responsible for their ensuring that the whole AERO Specialties staff—from sales and support to the mechanics—are given thorough training on all of their GSE and the roles and responsibility of airside ground crews. From their aircraft tow tractor line to GSE manuals, AERO Specialties can meet everyone of your aviation business’s needs.

Discover everything you need to help your aviation business take flight with AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/2Gi8jnq

If there’s an occupation that requires those practicing it to avoid distraction, it’s members of airside ground crews. For one, the functioning of an airport relies on the ground crew performing quickly but efficiently, accurately, and effectively. Failing to do so can cost the airlines thousands, even millions of dollars. That alone both requires and justifies the need to avoid distractions. However, there’s a reason even more compelling than the millions of dollars at stake for those airside ground crews to pay attention: safety.

Not that the ground crews would want it any other way, but along with being one of the most stressful and demanding jobs, it can also be one of the most dangerous. It combines the same heavy lifting and trip and fall hazards of other occupations with the collision risks accompanying those in and around fleets of aircraft tugs, baggage carts, and the rest of the ground support equipment (GSE). Add in constant loud noise and massive aircraft to the work environment and it’s easy to see how any distraction could prove dangerous. Thankfully, there are strategies to deal with, mitigate, and even abolish those distractions.

Main Distraction Types

Sound Distractions

Some of the potential audio distractions are obvious ones. The ramp and apron (and of course tarmac) of an airport are among the loudest workplaces. The sound of jet engines roaring and GSE being driven can mask noises that would otherwise contribute to warning someone of something like a vehicle pulling up behind them or the vehicle they’re in. However, those distractions can also include less necessary noises like earbuds or cellphones, which is why their use is often prohibited.

Visual and Physical Distractions

Since the audio cues that those in other professions can count on for information are often masked by noise and noise-dampening earmuffs, strict visual and physical attention is even more necessary. Taking your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road in an aircraft pushback or any vehicle is courting a risk of accidents that could result in incredibly expensive damage to GSE and aircraft as well as injury or worse.

Solutions to the Distractions

Communication and Telematics

One of the most effective preventative steps a ground crew can take is to prioritize communication. Crew members should inform each other of plans for GSE use and keep in constant contact on more involved or hazardous tasks with headsets. Installing a quality telematics system to coordinate the use and location of equipment can also prove a boon to ground crews, both for productivity and safety.

GSE Safety Systems

Sometimes there are distractions and other unplanned perils on the ramp or apron that simply can’t be entirely prepared for. And sometimes the most effective way to moderate those contingencies is to automate some capabilities as an aid to ground support crew. This can be done by outfitting the GSE with safety systems that can automate some of their functions. Safe docking systems that help avoid damage do so ably, as do towing and collision damage-preventing systems for an aircraft tug or pushback like the SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System from AERO Specialties.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties is well-known as one of the standard-setting thought leaders in aviation equipment and ground support equipment (GSE) quality and innovation. Their GSE is recognized as some of the best on the market due to their commitment to cutting-edge technological advancement in the aviation industry. AERO Specialties’ dedication to providing the best GSE available is shared by their entire team. They ensure that their whole staff—from sales to support—receive in-depth training on all GSE and the responsibilities of the airside ground crews. From their aircraft ground power unit line to aviation safety equipment, AERO Specialties has everything your aviation business needs to take off.

Learn more about helping your business take flight with AERO Specialties’ GSE and training resources, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/5qjtP7

Aviation ground crew work comes with some risks. It requires working from heights to clean, deice, repair, fuel, or otherwise maintain aircraft, typically at a fast pace. It also involves working in and around a whole fleet of motorized ground support equipment and heavy lifting, not to mention working with often dangerous, caustic, and highly flammable chemicals. And all of that is happening while there are massive aircraft taxiing around or being towed by aircraft tugs—it’s a pretty busy work environment.

Despite all of that, most members of an air side crew wouldn’t have it any other way. There is, however, an additional risk: Extreme weather. It’s getter hotter in the summer, harsher in the winter, and the storms during the seasons can be more severe. These factors all create a dynamic that is not only miserable for an air side crew, it can be dangerous. Fortunately, the following safety tips can help to reduce that risk.

Planning and Updating

The first step in addressing severe weather is setting up a plan for dealing with it. If there is already a plan for severe weather, ensure that it is updated and that any equipment involved is fully functional and optimized for performance.Also ensure that all ground crew are familiar with the procedures such as places to take shelter, warning communication systems, specific protocols, check-in and communication standards, etc.

Warning System

Speaking of warning communications systems, ground crew work generally involves conditions impeding the crew’s ability to hear. It’s hard to hear a warning siren or a cell phone beeping with a storm warning when an aircraft tow tractor is rumbling by and a jet engine is roaring. A strobe light is among the most popular of solutions, so consider employing one (if you’re not already), or adopting some other other visual warning system.

Working in the Cold

Wear layers: The more layers, the more warmth and more ability to regulate temperature if the temperature rises. Ensure that the clothing fits well also. Too loose and the clothing isn’t great at keeping you warm and can more easily be snagged; too tight and circulation is restricted as well as movement. Covering extremities is big: Cover and keep your ears, hands, and feet warm and protected from the cold. Gloves should be thick with durable construction and high-quality materials. Boots should be warm, as waterproof as possible, and have good tread to prevent slips and accidents. Cold, wet feet are uncomfortable, distracting, and can be dangerous. It’s best to be bundled up properly so the focus stays primarily on the work rather than the temps.

Working in the Heat

Of course, working in extreme heat can be just as dangerous as working in the bitter cold. In some ways it can be even more dangerous.Heat stroke can result in significant injuries and even death. Particularly when that work involves exertion like air side ground crew labor. No matter the weather, but especially in the heat of summer, it’s important to stay hydrated. Ensure easy access to water, plenty of it, and urge the importance of staying hydrated as to avoid dehydration or heat stroke. Sunscreen is also important. If the job site provides trailers with air conditioning, use them as often as necessary. And despite the heat, the key to keeping as cool and protected from the sun as possible is covering up. That means wearing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a light, long-sleeved shirt and pants.

And no matter the temps, be sure to have ground crew wearing the appropriate gear to make sure they’re noticed on and off the tarmac. Bright, reflective vests, lights, and reflective strips on clothing can help keep everyone safe and aware of where ground crew is working. While some of these tips are more general, it’s the basics that can be easy to forget in the day-to-day rush on particularly cold and hot days. Proper training is essential as well as ensuring everyone has what they need to do their job effectively—particularly in extreme weather.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties is well-known as one of the standard-setting thought leaders in aviation equipment and ground support equipment (GSE) quality and innovation. Their GSE is recognized as some of the best on the market due to their commitment to cutting-edge technological advancement in the aviation industry. AERO Specialties’ dedication to providing the best GSE available is shared by their entire team. They ensure that their whole staff—from sales to support—receive in-depth training on all GSE and the responsibilities of the airside ground crews. From their aircraft ground power unit line to aviation safety equipment, AERO Specialties has everything your aviation business needs to take off.

Learn more about helping your business take flight with AERO Specialties’ GSE and training resources, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/kKu42J

Being a member of an airside support crew can be harrowing at the best of times. Millions of dollars, the comfort and convenience of thousands of passengers, and, in many cases, the safety and lives of those passengers are in the hands of the ground crews. On top of which, aircraft tugs and pushbacks, baggage and lav carts, and a fleet of other ground support equipment (GSE), are zipping around on the apron. Not to mention that massive aircraft being tugged, pushed-back, or taxiing have to be dodged.

And that’s the work environment when the weather is nice, warm, and clear. When winter and the snow hit, every one of those challenges remains, on top of which the crews have to deal with accumulating snow, iced-up wings, ice on the ground, blinding wind, icy fog, storms inhibiting visibility, and often, bitter cold. Particularly frustrating is that the conditions being that much more difficult results in an increased chance of delays, which can place even more pressure on the ground crews to perform their duties as quickly as possible without sacrificing thoroughness. So what are the best ways for ground crews to do the work efficiently and effectively, while also remaining safe?

Snow Buildup

According to the FAA, once 1/8 of an inch of wet snow or slush accumulates on the runway, it’s officially a “contaminant.”And that’s the same designation for an inch or less of dry snow and any depth of compacted snow. The designation is as stringent as it is for a good reason. Ground crews are no doubt aware that takeoff and landing are by far the two most pivotal parts of a flight. Snow can both fall and compact extremely quickly, particularly with even moderate traffic. It doesn’t take much snow to result in aircraft slides that, due to the speeds and momentum of aircraft taking off or landing, can prove catastrophic.

As such, removal of snow from runways has to be a top priority. But rushing the snow removal, whether by plowing, salting, or spraying deicing fluid, can prove dangerous as well. An aircraft tug or snowplow, while not dealing with the size or momentum of an aircraft, is still a large vehicle being driven around a lot of other large vehicles and human beings. So ensure that—consistently, but particularly in inclement weather—communication with managers, the tower, and other crews is a top priority.

The Dangers of Ice

The risk of GSE sliding on frozen precipitation has been touched on, but more dangerous than snow is the threat of black ice. Black ice can form extremely quickly, both under snow and on tarmac that otherwise looks clear. And anyone who’s ever hit a patch of it is aware that you don’t need to be going fast to find yourself in a dangerous slide. Accompanied by its own set of challenges and dangers is the deicing of both the runways and the aircraft.

While the necessity to fully deice an aircraft has been forever branded into the mind of every deicer, there are other concerns that can get less attention. The necessity for communication is one of those. Failures in communication while deicing have led to serious injuries and accidents. Deicing fluid seeping into the cabin of the aircraft being sprayed and partially-received messages resulting in pilots swinging into deicing vehicles are just a couple of the unfortunate products of failures to communicate. The bottom line is, be safe, be aware, be communicative, and use quality deicing and snow removal equipment, and you should be just fine.

AERO Specialties offers a wide variety of deicing products, including deice trucks, fluids, and portable deicing units. When used properly, these products will greatly enhance your safety on the ramp.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has established an international reputation as one of the most innovative thought leaders in the industry. They are committed to producing and providing the best-quality GSE on the market, by consistently remaining on the cutting edge of airside technological advancement. That dedication to superior GSE is also shared by AERO Specialties’ team members. They insist that everyone on the staff—from sales to support—are given detailed, in-depth training on GSE including the duties of airside ground crews and their equipment. From an aircraft pushback to deicing products, AERO Specialties has what you need to keep your aviation business flying high.

Find out how your aviation business can really take off with AERO Specialties’ GSE equipment, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/ZUNaTD

An argument could be made that an airside work environment, perhaps particularly the ramp, is like an incubator for accident risk. Airports are high-activity, high-stress workplaces, in which huge monetary losses that accrue during ground-time means working as quickly as possible is a must. On top of which, ground crews are driving dozens of specialized motorized vehicles, often hauling volatile chemicals to service massive aircraft, sometimes doing so in inclement weather.

The briefest lapse in concentration, miscommunication, equipment failure, or operator-oversight in an aircraft tow tractor or baggage tug can (and does) result in costly and dangerous accidents. One of those accidents can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to vehicles and aircraft, sometimes even more costly ground-time for the airline, a lot of angry passengers, and worst of all, critical injury or worse for the crew members involved. Costly and dangerous as these accidents are, however, there are steps that can be taken to, at the very least, mitigate the risks of ramp damage.

Causes and Costs of Ramp Accidents

First off, these are not rare or unlikely events. According to the data, there are about 27,000 ramp accidents a year. Around 243,000 people are injured each year in those accidents, with an injury rate of 9 per 1,000 departures. Along with the vast toll taken by those injury rates, those ramp accidents, directly and indirectly, cost at least $10 billion a year. Needless to say, that’s a massive problem with an enormous cost both monetarily and to the health and safety of ground crews.

The causes of ramp accidents are largely the same as the causes of accidents in other situations. They can be the result of operators of aircraft tugs and other ground support equipment (GSE) simply becoming distracted. However, a problem that seems to be a more widespread issue is either a lack of training or a lack of training on a specific GSE. Additional risks include inclement weather, communication shortcomings, and an absence of technological accommodation in the GSE.

Preventing Ramp Accidents

Of course, the causes of the accidents suggest solutions for them. An emphasis needs to be placed on how vital operating GSE without unnecessary distractions is. There should be no music on headphones while working and no use of unauthorized electronic devices or unnecessary interaction with other crew members. That, however, can be included as part of a broader strategy that puts a premium on training. Airside work environments can be stressful and there’s certainly an emphasis on working quickly, which can make cutting corners on training tempting.

However, no crew member should use any GSE without proper training on that specific equipment. And it should be noted that being certified or proficient with one kind of equipment doesn’t automatically translate as proficiency with another piece of GSE. Training should also incorporate best practices for better communication and coordination among the members of a ground crew.

Finally, there are a number of equipment upgrades that can make an airside work environment safer. Those include deploying telematics programs, weather-specific modifications for GSE, and operator safety-enhancing tools like AERO Specialties’ SiPsHitch^™ aircraft towing system.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has established an international reputation as one of the most innovative thought leaders in the industry. They are committed to producing and providing the best-quality GSE on the market, by consistently remaining on the cutting edge of airside technological advancement. That dedication to superior GSE is also shared by AERO Specialties’ team members. They insist that everyone on the staff—from sales to support—are given detailed, in-depth training on GSE including the duties of airside ground crews and their equipment. From an aircraft ground power unit to decals, AERO Specialties has what you need to keep your aviation business flying high.

Find out how your aviation business can really takeoff with AERO Specialties’ GSE equipment and training, at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/WjtYby

There is every indication that the popularity of air travel will continue to increase in the years to come. A practical demonstration of that fact is already evidenced by the increased congestion at the world’s major airports. An increase in the traffic through airports will also be attended by a busier, more demanding, more stressful, and even more dangerous airside.

Thankfully, the increases in traffic and the challenges that brings to the airside are being complemented by an increase in the technological innovation that’s shaping how those challenges will be addressed. Changes already being made at airports globally are an indication of what the airside of the future may look like. The good news is that it appears to be one in which ground crews, their equipment, and the aircraft are safer, more efficiently managed, and more effectively overseen.

GSE Goes Electric

For the great majority of the time airports have been in business, the average aircraft pushback tractor paralleled the average family station wagon in basic design. It was an internal combustion vehicle driven by a human being who controlled it. That dynamic is changing on both the freeways and airsides, but more quickly for the latter.Electric GSE, such as aircraft pushback tows and tractors, are increasingly common and widely considered a virtual inevitability.

A number of major airports and airlines are already replacing portions of their fleets with electric vehicles and many more are making commitments to do so. While the up-front cost of an infrastructure switch-over to electric remains a concern in many corners, for many the cost and environmental benefits alone are proving too attractive to ignore.

Pooling with GSE

Speaking of infrastructure switch-over concerns, the move to electric is actually being abetted by another rising yet controversial airside trend: pooling GSE. Pooling involves either the airport or a contracted third party controlling all of the GSE and the individual crews using them as needed.

The primary benefit of pooling is a reduction in GSE congestion on the apron. Different crews depositing aircraft tugs and baggage loaders on the apron, resulting in congestion, can contribute to a considerably less efficient ground crew work management, greater risk of injury, and an increase in damage to both aircraft and vehicles. Less congested airsides mean less airline ground time, substantial potential savings, and most importantly, safer people. Though there are substantial setup costs to establish the pooling infrastructure as well as several details that would need to be worked out with ground crews, airports, and potential third parties to implement and support a pooling system.

Increased Automation

Automation is something of a loaded topic. There’s no question that automation can help improve efficiency, decrease accidents, reduce errors, etc. It can also replace human employees. However, much of the automation that has been making its way to airside ground crews hasn’t been ground crew-replacing, but ground crew-reinforcing.For instance, there has been a significant increase in the emergence of hybrid-automation for airside ground crews.

Instead of GSE being fully automated and operating without any human input beyond initial programming of schedules or work orders, automation is being applied to aid the ground crew with digital precision they don’t have.AERO Specialties is leading the field in many of these areas. Recent examples include the SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System, which precisely measures the stress an aircraft tug applies to nose gear, allowing intervention to avoid damage; automated shutoff valves for fueling; and AERO Specialties’ Safe-Lav lavatory filling system on lav carts to prevent overflow. It’s technological advances like these that promise a safer, cleaner, and more efficient aviation future.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has gained a national and international reputation as one of the most trustworthy, dependable, and committed GSE providers in the industry. Not only are they devoted to producing the highest-quality GSE available, they consistently remain on the leading edge of airside innovation. Their dedication to superior equipment applies to their team members as well. AERO Specialties insists that all of their team, from sales to the support staff, is provided with in-depth training on and a detailed understanding of airside ground crew operations and equipment. For everything from decals to aircraft tugs, AERO Specialties will keep your aviation business flying high.

Learn more about AERO Specialties’ equipment and innovation at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/nRCdKH

If the implementation, organization, logistics, finances, and general future of ground support equipment (GSE) pooling isn’t the most controversial topic in the airside/aviation support industry, it’s without a doubt in the top three. At airports all over the planet the question of pooling is being debated by enthusiastic supporters and equally fervent detractors, and in a number of them, it’s already being implemented.

With pooling in practice on a large scale still in its infancy, however, universal adoption is far from a certainty. As is the case with any major shift in an industry’s operational parameters, there don’t seem to be a whole lot of easy answers and even the most vocal proponents of GSE pooling acknowledge that implementation will almost certainly be a bit turbulent. Whether or not it proves worth it remains to be seen.

Potential Drawbacks of Pooling

For the unfamiliar, at the moment, different ground crews have contracts with specific airlines and those crews own, lease, or otherwise control their own aircraft tugs, ground power supply units, and the other GSE they use. Pooling would involve all of the GSE being controlled by the airport or a third party they contract and that equipment would be made available for members of those different crews as necessary. Instead of the leased or owned property of the ground crews, the GSE would be pooled together, often similar to other features of common-use airport infrastructure.

Chief among the drawbacks would be the initial implementation and setup costs to establish the pooling infrastructure. How that expenditure would be paid and whom by is likewise controversial. Loss of equipment-autonomy is a major concern among ground crews at the moment. What if, despite computerized scheduling and telematics tracking, a flight was late and the ground crew using a communal aircraft tow tractor or other GSE to service it wouldn’t/couldn’t relinquish the equipment? It seems no universal system of payment has been sorted out either. Considered options include a flat rate, a per-use fee, a running meter, or a by-the-minute charge. There are still a lot of details to iron out.

Potential Benefits of Pooling

The benefits, however, could be substantial. Proponents of pooling insist that pooled GSE could vastly reduce (often dangerous) GSE congestion on the apron, making airside operation both more efficient and considerably less dangerous. And according to initial feedback from London Luton Airport (LLA), the first major airport to implement pooling on a major scale, that hope appears to be panning out. According to LLA, GSE congestion on the apron has been reduced by 40%.

LLA staff predicts that an expansion of the pooling into additional GSE, like their baggage belt and aircraft ground power unit fleets, will likely reduce congestion by an additional 30%. That reduction in congestion, officials say, will lead to a “massive reduction” in damage to GSE, perhaps as much as 90%. Considering the staggering (multi-billion dollar) cost of GSE damage, ramp damage to GSE and aircraft, and the time lost due to those incidents, reductions of that size in congestion and damage make the prospect of pooling appear promising for GSE management.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties has gained a national and international reputation as one of the most trustworthy, dependable, and committed GSE providers in the industry. Not only are they devoted to producing the highest-quality GSE available, they consistently remain on the leading edge of airside innovation. Their dedication to superior equipment applies to their team members as well. AERO Specialties insists that all of their team, from sales to the support staff, is provided with in-depth training on and a detailed understanding of airside ground crew operations and equipment. For everything from decals to aircraft tugs, AERO Specialties will keep your aviation business flying high.

Learn more about AERO Specialties’ equipment and innovation at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/TR2SvV

Every year, the airlines lose billions of dollars to accidents and other damage incidents. Beyond the financial risk and loss, accidents and damage incidents are responsible for a number of collateral and peripheral consequences. Those consequences range from passenger inconvenience and loss of business to, far worse, injury or death.

Unfortunately, as airsides at airports and aerodromes are generally busy, borderline chaotic places, with ground support equipment (GSE) like aircraft pushback tractors and baggage carts bustling past massive airliners, accidents and damage incidents can have a lot of sources. That also leaves airport management, contractors, and third parties vulnerable to liability costs. The good news is: most of those can be mitigated or avoided altogether.

 
Ramp Damage: Towing and Collision Incidents

According to the research, the total cost of ramp damage alone to the airlines is around $10 billion every year. The average cost of each accident was $250,000. It’s a mind-boggling sum with a variety of causes. Most of those involve the interaction of GSE and aircraft. Examples include belt and cargo loaders and other services carts and vehicles colliding with aircraft, “ramp rash” incidents with composite-skinned aircraft that look minor but have done below-the-surface damage, and towing damage from an aircraft tug or pushback.

A big part of preventing ramp damage relies on training. Even if they’ve operated vehicles or carts that seem comparable, no ground crew should be using any GSE that they haven’t received specific training for. And that training should be ongoing. Even long-time ground crew may not be familiar with best practices for composite-skinned aircraft.

Incorporating new technology is also key. Telematic fleet tracking and coordination can make ground crew GSE operation both safer and more efficient. Likewise, equipping aircraft tugs and tow tractors with a force monitoring system, like SiPsHitch from AERO Specialties, is hugely effective at decreasing or eliminating towing-related damage to aircraft. The SiPsHitch Linear Force Monitoring can be included with models of GSE, like the TLD TMX-TTV Aircraft Towing Tractor Package.

The cost of damage and delays caused by bird strikes is even great than that of FOD, at $1.2 billion. While the aviation industry is incorporating and investigating a variety of technological solutions to the problem of bird strikes, it can be one of the most difficult to mitigate. For the time being, among the best options seem to be delaying takeoff or landing (fuel permitting). Flight staff should also be trained on avoiding bird strikes and kept informed of local bird activity around the airport and flight path as to switch to bird-free runways if possible. Last, it’s imperative to remain extremely vigilant for bird activity on final approaches.

About AERO Specialties

As part of their commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their team members, even sales and support staff, are familiar with both the products and the aviation handling and maintenance industry. That attention to company-wide understanding of the business is representative of the ethos that has made AERO Specialties one of the most trusted names in GSE. They offer aircraft pushback vehicles and aircraft tugs, intercom and related audio equipment, deicing vehicles, lavatory carts, snack and drink vehicles, baggage and cargo handling solutions, hydraulic fluid services, an aircraft ground power unit line, towbars, aircraft lighting, and everything else necessary for the successful operation of an airside ground crew.

Optimize the efficiency of your ground crew’s airside operation with GSE from AERO Specialties at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/TEun7q

Several years ago, airport heads of ground operations were brought together from different parts of the world to discuss the most common problems they face with their ground operations. Their answers had some overlap but were surprisingly different. One of the chief takeaways, however, was that the issues they cited that involved ground crew virtually always involved the crew not having sufficient training.

That’s not an uncommon or unexpected finding. Even when identifying the problems they encountered that didn’t specifically name a lack of training, the root of that issue could pretty reliably be attributed to it. Poorly maintained, old and obsolete, and otherwise inadequate ground support equipment (GSE) is likely the second most commonly mentioned. Thankfully, both of these issues can be resolved for safer, more efficient, more financially stable ground operations and a happier ground support crew.

Common Ground Operation Issues

If there is one specific issue that the heads of ground operations mentioned as a contributor to slowdowns, delays, and gummed-up airside operation, it was ground crew vehicle operation. For example, operators of aircraft tugs and baggage carts or tractors being unfamiliar with or disregarding airport regulations when driving on the ramp or apron.

Drivers unfamiliar with their vehicles’ operational limits may do things such as speeding or driving outside of the boundaries designating its safe operation. Many ground operation managers have seen too much GSE and other airport equipment damaged from actions like these. Not only is driving outside of the marked roadways or other routes dangerous on airport property, doing so can put GSE at far higher risk of foreign object damage.

The other most commonly-cited issue was the parking of GSE in inappropriate places. Inappropriate parking can interfere with other ground crew operations, leading to delays, loading and unloading problems, maintenance and flight preparation issues, and a lack or shortage of the necessary resources at the stands and gates. It can also be dangerous, resulting in collisions if another operator isn’t expecting to encounter a vehicle parked around a corner where parking is prohibited. Not to mention one may accidentally block the access of emergency vehicles.

Fixing Those Issues

As mentioned, more often than not these problems aren’t the result of the vehicle operators just not caring as they are a lack of training. Obvious as it is, the solution to that is pretty simple: sufficient training.

And the lack of training certainly isn’t just the fault of a supervisor not feeling like training someone. Ground crew work can be among the most stressful, fast-paced, and demanding professions. Faced with this fast pace, some crew supervisors may surmise that if someone can drive a car, they can drive a baggage cart, and if they can drive a baggage cart, they can drive an aircraft pushback. So saving some time without going into tedious specifics may seem reasonable given the number of tasks at hand.

Of course, that’s simply not the case. The GSE vehicles and equipment, even those sharing basically similar operation-design features, are all designed to do very specific things. They have specific attributes and engine sizes and speed capabilities and unique operational behavior based on their function. Not only is driving a traditional car or truck not sufficient to qualify someone to operate GSE, being fully trained up on one piece of GSE doesn’t mean immediate qualification to operate others.

Every member of the ground crew needs to be fully trained and fully educated on the use of every piece of GSE they’re going to be using. And all ground crew should be given comprehensive training on airport safety, the importance of staying within the marked routes, where parking is allowed and not, and anything else that will contribute to a safer and more efficient airside working environment.

The AERO Specialties SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System is designed to mitigate risk factors during aircraft towing by providing operators with a sophisticated linear force monitoring system, reducing the risk of damage to equipment and aircraft. As a part of AERO Specialties’ line of Aviation Safety Equipment, the SiPsHitch™ can prevent costly damage to aircraft, tugs, and other equipment.

About AERO Specialties

Since their founding, AERO Specialties has been committed to providing the highest-quality ground support equipment and everything else a functioning airport needs to run smoothly. As part of their dedication to the best products and the best customer service, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their sales and support staff develop an in-depth, detailed understanding of ground crew operation and equipment. You can depend on them to find a dependable aircraft tug to suit your needs and everything else you’ll require for successful airport operations.

Visit AERO Specialties for the GSE you need at Aerospecialties.com


Original Source: https://goo.gl/DuMhpE

The work environment for an airport’s ground crew is a particularly high-risk one. In fact, if one were to list major workplace risk factors, it might harder to find the ones that don’t apply to an airport ground crew than the ones that do.

Ground crew work often requires high-speed and high-stress tasks, such as hurrying to get aircraft ready for flight or seen to after a flight, while other aircraft are waiting for service. It also involves the use of heavy equipment and vehicles like aircraft tugs, as well as working on far larger and heavier equipment and vehicles, like aircraft. The ground crew are often carrying heavy luggage and other equipment and transporting and using any number of chemicals, including fuels, lavatory fluids, deicing fluid, and more. Not to mention the additional stress or that for many of the crew, not doing their job or doing it incorrectly can put the lives of a lot of other people in danger.

That level of risk is, of course, responsible for the significant level of regulation ground crews are familiar with. Unfortunately, those regulations don’t prevent all injuries. They can be overlooked, and attempts to cut corners that seem convenient at the time can result in accidents. Below we’ll cover some of the most common injuries for members of aircraft ground crews and how to avoid them.

Injuries Common to Airport Ground Crew

With the more dramatic risks accompanying work on a ground crew, like the massive aircraft being taxied around, it can be easy to forget that ground crews also face pretty much the same workplace risks of an office worker. Namely, the most common injury suffered by ground support crew: slips, trips, and falls.

According to research, nearly half of ground crew injuries are from slips, trips, and falls. The next most common is another fairly universal workplace risk that airside ground crew are still particularly susceptible to: lifting and carrying accidents. After the most common and universal ones are the class of injuries involving vehicles that most often result in the serious injury and sometimes death of members of an airport ground crew.

Airside crews face even more risk from the use of vehicles than most worker populations because they’re not only driving them, they’re interacting with some of the largest vehicles on the planet. In other words, driving an aircraft tow tractor is accompanied by its own set of risks and challenges. Sharing space on the taxiway and apron with aircraft presents its own challenges, and hooking up to them to push and pull also comes with its own unique set of risks. However, all of these risks, however monotonous or unique to ground crew work, can be at least mitigated if not removed.

How to Prevent Those Injuries

It’s not the most original information, but the best strategies for avoiding injuries from slips, trips, and falls as well as lifting and carrying, are very familiar, because they work. Work areas should be kept clear of obstructions whenever possible. The appropriate clothing and equipment, including footwear with proper traction, should always be used in inclement weather. Spills, be it oil or other chemicals, should be cleaned up or dealt with as soon as possible. Additionally, safe, conscientious behavior on ladders is always important, and one should always lift with their legs (not their back) and wear dependable gloves.

As for the vehicle-related injuries, the first steps to avoiding injury begin before the vehicle is even used. Vehicles need consistent maintenance, the maintenance staff needs to be specifically trained for the equipment being used, and it needs to be the appropriate equipment for the job able to handle the task at hand. Ensuring that your ground support crew is taking the appropriate safety measures and paying attention to the task at hand and their surroundings will help keep them safe while working on and around aircraft.

About AERO Specialties

Since their founding, AERO Specialties has been committed to providing the highest-quality ground support equipment and everything else a functioning airport needs to run smoothly. AERO Specialties offers a full line of ground support safety equipment, including FOD protection, lighting, and wheel chocks.

As part of their dedication to the best products and the best customer service, AERO Specialties ensures that all of their sales and support staff develop an in-depth, detailed understanding of ground crew operation and equipment. You can depend on them to find an aircraft ground power unit and everything else you’ll need for successful airport operations.

Visit AERO Specialties for the GSE you need at Aerospecialties.com

Original Source: https://goo.gl/Mnh9d4

Any member of an airside ground crew, which certainly includes the management, will tell you that the work can be pretty high-stress. They are operating under two mandates which are not only often in competition, they can seem fairly contradictory. Those mandates are: “Do the job as quickly as possible!” And, “Be thorough, complete checklists, double-check, make no mistakes, be careful, and be safe.”
Although both of those priorities make sense from the perspective of the airlines and those airside serving at the pleasure of those airlines, delays on the ground can cost millions—literally. Not even just big delays. According to an industry report, a large airline loses as much as $35 million (USD) annually for every additional five minutes of ground time. According to the same report, it’s also pointed out that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the aviation industry would save $4 billion annually by taking preventative safety measures. More specifically, by “improving safety and reducing damage to aircraft and ground vehicles.”

So how can the ground crew work as quickly as possible while also ensuring that there are no oversights or mistakes—a single one of which can not only cost millions but lead to consequences far more dire?

Staying on Top of GSE Maintenance

This may seem obvious, but in the fast-moving, high-intensity pressure cooker of aviation ground work, it can be easy to put off scheduled maintenance of the GSE or procrastinate on dealing with a fault code that isn’t going to immediately result in equipment failure.

The true cost of cutting those corners and whatever trivial amount of time was saved by dragging feet on maintenance, upkeep, and repair becomes far too clear when an aircraft tug breaks down on some access-blocking part of the apron or taxiway. That’s the sort of event that would likewise contribute to considerably more than five minutes of ground time.

And unfortunately, breaking down can be the best-case scenario for a GSE failure. If one of those same aircraft tugs experiences a failure while attempting to dock, thousands of dollars of additional damage can be done and the aircraft can become jackknifed, etc. Basically, nothing good can come from failing to stay right on top of maintenance and repair, but a whole lot of bad can.

Leveraging the Best Technology

There are a number of technological advances that can make and have made the work of ground crews easier, safer, and more efficient. More comprehensive additions like an entire GSE fleet linked by digital telematics and tracking can certainly improve safety and efficiency. But those improvements can be simple too. Lighting is a good example.

Replacing older light sources with LEDs can help considerably, both interior and exterior. Navigation lighting for an aircraft pushback tractor, headlights, signal lights, flashing beacons, backup-warning lights—anything that can provide a crew member with a better view of the job they’re doing or successfully advise aviation staff of a caution can be improved with high-quality lights.

Most important of all, however, is good communications between on-ground crew and management and coordination staff, a well-maintained and serviced GSE fleet, and a commitment to doing the job right.

About AERO Specialties

AERO Specialties is dedicated to both quality and customer service. As part of that dedication, they ensure that all AERO Specialties’ team members, including sales and support staff, not only understand the equipment but also have an extensive, detailed understanding of aircraft handling and maintenance. AERO Specialties specializes in aircraft tugs, aircraft solutions in baggage and cargo handling, intercom systems, hydraulic fluid services, and aircraft lighting. They offer such parts as towbar and towbar head ball lock pins, shear pins, oxygen charge adapters, nitrogen service adapters, ground power unit cables, and many more parts to support your equipment fleet.

To optimize the quality and efficiency of GSE, visit AERO Specialties at Aerospecialties.com



Original Source: https://goo.gl/BgTtWA