From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In aviation, aircraft ground handling defines the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground and (usually) parked at a terminal gate of an airport.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Cabin service 1.2 Catering 1.3 Ramp service 1.4 Field Operation Service 2 External links 3 List of handling agents

Many airlines subcontract ground handling to an airport or a handling agent, or even to another airline. Ground handling addresses the many service requirements of a passenger aircraft between the time it arrives at a terminal gate and the time it departs on its next flight. Speed, efficiency, and accuracy are important in ground handling services in order to minimize the turnaround time (the time during which the aircraft must remain parked at the gate).

Small airlines sometimes subcontract maintenance to a much larger and reputable carrier, as it is a short-term cheaper alternative to setting up an independent maintenance base.

Some airlines may enter into a Maintenance and Ground Support Agreement (MAGSA) with each other, which is used by airlines to assess costs for maintenance and support to aircraft.

Most ground services are not directly related to the actual flying of the aircraft, and instead involve other maintenance tasks. The major categories of ground handling services are described below.

These services ensure passenger comfort. They include such tasks as cleaning the passenger cabin and replenishment of on-board consumables or washable items such as soap, pillows, tissues, blankets, etc.

Catering includes the unloading of unused food and drink from the aircraft, and the loading of fresh food and drink for passengers and crew. The meals are typically delivered in trolleys. The empty or trash-filled trolley(s) from the previous flight is replaced by a fresh one. Meals are prepared mostly on the ground in order to minimize the amount of preparation (apart from chilling or reheating) required in the air.

This includes services on the ramp or apron, such as:

• Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking position (by way of Aircraft marshalling),
• Towing with pushback tractors
• Lavatory drainage
• Water cartage (to refill fresh water tanks)
• Air conditioning (more common for smaller aircraft)
• Airstart units (for starting engines)
• Luggage handling, usually by means of beltloaders and baggage carts
• Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo dollies, and cargo loaders
• Catering trucks
• Refuelling, which may be done with a refuelling tanker truck or refuelling pumper
• Ground power (so that engines need not be running to provide aircraft power on the ground)
• Passenger stairs (used instead of an aerobridge, some budget airlines use both to improve turnaround speed)
• Wheelchair lifts, if required
• Hydraulic mules (units that provide hydraulic power to an aircraft externally)
• Deicing

This service dispatches the aircraft, maintains communication with the rest of the airline operation at the airport and with Air Traffic Control.

• ASMO Corp website
• IATA Ground Handling Council
• AirlineMeals.net - Behind the scenes of inflight catering
• Helicopter ground handling
• Losch Airport Service
• SAS Ground Services

• ATA Handling
• Aviapartner
• Aviance
• Big Orange Handling Company
• Cambata Aviation
• Cara Operations
• Gate Gourmet
• Losch Airport Service
• LSG Sky Chefs
• Handlex
• Menzies Aviation
• Penauille Servisair
• Plane Handling
• SAS Ground Services
• SEA handling
• Servair
• Swissport
• ASMO Corp
• Tiger Aviation Services