Ever Wondered What All the Equipment is Before Boarding a Plane? *

One of my favourite things to do at airports is to look out the large windows and watch the airplanes go up and down, imagining where are they going to or where they are coming from. I remember this one particular day, it was pouring outside, my phone’s battery was dead, so I was watching airport people work near the planes (a bit strange, I know – but I was bored and curious). 

At this point, I started to notice all the bits of equipment used for each plane which was incredible. Then, I started to wonder what all that equipment was and what it was used to. Fortunately, I’m good friends with a member of staff at Aviation Spares, a ground support equipment supplier for airports and airfields all across the globe, who took some time off her day to catch up and to answer all my questions. 

If you’ve ever asked yourself what type of equipment is used before boarding a plane or maybe you’ve been asked that question by your children, continue reading below to find out more.

Let’s dive into the basics: airport ground support equipment, also known as GSE, is “typically associated with the servicing of aircraft during the ground-based, airport turnaround process” as the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 149 explains. This means that all the equipment you see around the airplane before and after boarding is ground support equipment, anything from maintenance and cleaning to refuelling and even passenger stairs.

There are various other tasks that are performed using GSE, including moving airplanes out of gates, airfield maintenance, snow removal, loading and unloading of passenger baggage and restocking of potable water and food. 

Ground support equipment isn’t limited to motorised equipment, such as tow tractors, which transport the aircraft and other equipment, and belt loaders, which load baggage onto the airplane. There are also non-motorised types of equipment including aircraft chocks, which are used to prevent airplanes from moving while parked.

This type of equipment is definitely the most important equipment at an airport, as it makes sure that the airplane you’re about the board is ready to safely take you to your destination. So, next time you are at an airport and are looking out the windows, try to spot all the different types of GSE.