AERO Specialties

Many industries, aviation included, are pushing for cleaner, lower-emission, more environmentally friendly solutions. Many of the green initiatives related to the aviation industry have been dedicated to lowering the emissions of aircraft. While reducing the emissions of aircraft is often the biggest focus, there are other areas for improvement. The efficiency of aircraft tugs and other airside equipment is also a concern for any environmentally conscious airport.  Every major airport has a number of aircraft tugs and other ground support equipment (GSE) vehicles in operation. These include baggage and staircase vehicles, aircraft tow tractors, hauling carts, refuelers, ground power units, and others. Any effective strategies for cleaner, greener aviation must incorporate steps to lighten the carbon footprint of both the aircraft and the airside. Switching to Electric GSE Among the biggest of the global aviation environmental initiatives is the push for movi...

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 Consequenc...

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...

To some degree, asking whether or not the future of ground support equipment (GSE) will be electric is moot. Much of it already is. Commuters are now used to electric vehicles (EV) ferrying people and cargo around inside airports, and they’re becoming an increasingly common feature of the airside workspace. There are certainly a number of obvious advantages to GSE going electric, but the transition is not without challenges as well, particularly in the short-term. The question for the aviation industry is whether or not the transition to electric aircraft tugs and lav carts is worth the necessary modifications. Or, is the electrification of aviation an inevitability regardless of preference? The Trend As mentioned, there’s no question which direction the wind is blowing. Commercial and public transport across business sectors across the world are transitioning to EVs in earnest. And it’s happening fairly aggressively in many cases. Ten years ago, diesel vehicles...

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, responsi...

Keeping your ground support equipment in the best working condition is critical for aircraft turnaround, ramp safety, and repairing aircraft. Using GSE correctly is also hugely important for the safety of the ramp team and protecting the aircraft parts that need maintenance or replacement. When utilizing GSE for airport operations, be intentional about staying informed about the right ways to use tools and up-to-date on progressive technology that’s being introduced to the ramp. Here are a few tips on how to maintain aircraft GSE to keep it running smoothly throughout the year. Aircraft Jacks A reliable aircraft jack is essential for any aircraft ground support team. There are several different kinds of jacks, and each one needs a different type of maintenance. These tips apply to most aircraft jacks. Aircraft jacks need inspection every 90 days or so, depending on how often they are used. Inspect the pump before using it. Check the relief valve setting and o...

With nearly 30 years of experience, AERO Specialties is a premier supplier of aircraft ground support equipment (GSE) to aviation markets spanning the globe. AERO manufactures and distributes industrial-grade, high-quality new, used and refurbished aircraft GSE.Priced competitively, they offer a massive inventory of parts and equipment, leading to shortened lead times that get you in the air quicker. Shop their extensive online selection of products, from aircraft tug s to ground support equipment; they’ll empower you to move forward. AERO Specialties offers 24/7 customer service and encourages ongoing company led training. Their commitment to providing the best service continues with their new GSE Maintenance Training. This training will combine classroom initiatives with hands-on training to educate customers on proper maintenance procedures, product troubleshooting, and operating procedures. With this expanded training, their goal is to extend the life of equipme...

Ground support equipment is an important factor in keeping aircraft technicians and support crew safe. Runway and airport operation areas deal with high traffic and tight schedules, making safety of the upmost importance to stay on track with few mishaps. Ground support equipment pieces are highly valuable assets to maintenance, aircraft storage, and baggage transportation. Without progressive technology, incidents could be much more common than they currently are today. From aircraft tugs to ground power units, there are a variety of essential ground support equipment safety features that use the power of technology.  Automated docking is a key safety feature of modern aircraft tugs and tractors. Instead of drivers being at risk of damaging equipment or jack-knifing the aircraft, automated docking ground support equipment streamlines the frequent process with less risk. Safely approaching the aircraft without automated docking could take an experienced operator mon...

Every year there are hundreds of people that get injured in GSE accidents, and the main reason behind this is the poor quality of the equipment. When a piece of GSE equipment is damaged due to horseplay, abuse or negligence, then it’s running operation is negatively affected, which makes the day’s work stressful and tougher for every ground crew employee. Maintaining this Ground Support Equipment is not everyone’s cup of tea; it requires visual inspections, using the equipment as per the instructions given by manufacturers and timely maintenance of the equipment. Improperly used and poorly maintained equipment can be disastrous for a company as well as employees. If you ignore the maintenance of the GSE, then sooner or later your equipment will stop working or you will experience a degradation in terms of performance. In such instances, it becomes imperative to replace your equipment to avoid disruptions in work. However, replacing the equipment is not that easy b...