AERO Specialties

Without certain pieces of ground service equipment, airport ground crews simply could not get any work done. A perfect example is the aircraft ground power unit , which supplies electricity to a plane while it is on the ground. Here are some pointers when looking for a GPU. Diesel-Powered or Electric-Powered? There is a wide range of aircraft ground power unit options out there. However, they largely boil down to two types: internal combustion-powered (i.e. diesel-powered) GPUs and all-electrical GPUs (also known as rectifiers). Pick the Right System (AC or DC) This could almost go without saying, but ground crews need to make sure that their GPUs can actually power the aircraft that they service. Smaller jets, general aviation aircraft and turboprop aircraft typically use a DC system. Obviously, crews would need DC systems to power these types of planes. By contrast, all airliners and large business jets require a significantly higher amount of electricity in order to fu...

There is a myriad of ways to tow aircraft, from towbars to electric aircraft tugs. Some of these vehicles are more traditional, while some are the result of years of progress and technology. Ground support in the world of air travel and airplanes is crucial to safety and scheduling. In the business of airplanes, everyone needs a reliable and versatile aircraft tug. Aircraft tugs are usually differentiated by the purpose of their features, such as battery powered or electric versus gasoline or diesel. Powerful yet easy to navigate aircraft tugs range from small to big and are designed with specific aircraft in mind. For smaller aircraft, such as personal aircraft, the common tow bar is simple yet efficient in assisting in moving aircraft. Often made of aluminum, these small aircraft tugs reflect their purpose of pulling smaller aircraft. They are light in weight and easy to direct, relying on manpower rather than an engine. Some are even small enough to fit into the aircraft for ...