Airside ground crew coordination and managing every aircraft tug in a ground support equipment (GSE) fleet is a momentous daily responsibility. Preparing for future, and future conditions, is an easy task to overlook during the daily routine. With the approach of winter weather, however, taking extra time to plan can significantly improve operations when poor conditions arrive. Preparing for those conditions is going to work out far more successfully than scrambling to react when they arrive. In short, the best time to prepare for winter is before it hits.
Communication Networks for Emergencies There’s no question that establishing, reinforcing, and checking up on intra-airport communication networks is crucial in case of emergencies. When well-planned and maintained, these networks also serve to improve daily operation. The lack of dedicated communication protocols and infrastructure is unfortunately common in a surprising number of aerodromes. There is often insufficient communication between general airport management and ground crews, flight crews and ground crews, and between the individual ground crews at larger airports. Lacking communication can cause delays and exacerbate dangerous situations. Setting up communications protocols which allow ground crews to communicate conditions and issues to appropriate parties is essential for hectic winter months. Deicing on Standby As potentially frustrating and counterproductive as a communication breakdown is when the aircraft pushback used as a plow breaks down, discovering too late that there’s no more deicing fluid is no better. Being sure to stock up everything you need to keep your deicing equipment ready to go, because it’s easy to not think about deicing fluid when there’s no need for it. Pre-season and end-of-season inventory checks can do wonders for efficiency once the snow hits. Any deicing vehicles, sprayers, tanks, platforms, and the like that haven’t been used since last winter should be examined by mechanics to ensure they’re all in good working order. Check to be sure that all the types of deicing fluid you need are available and consider the less obvious deicing equipment. For instance, consider dual-ear deicing headsets for the crew. Ground Crew Prepared Just as important as making sure winter equipment is available and in working order is ensuring that the operators and ground crew are prepared for winter. Ground crews need the training and experience to use the specialized winter equipment, as well as the communications systems that they’ll be relying on in poor weather. Training crew for winter conditions on GSE they are certified to use shouldn’t be overlooked. Pulling a string of baggage carts or a jetliner in the winter is an entirely different animal than it is in the summer. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties offers GSE designed to optimize performance for their customers, whether civilian or military, at an FBO, corporate airport, or consumer airport. To additionally ensure excellence, they train each and every member of the AERO Specialties team to be entirely familiar with all of their GSE offerings. So whether you need a safe, powerful aircraft ground power unit or LED marshalling wands, AERO Specialties has you covered. Help your aviation business reach new heights with AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/32kABWS
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The responsibilities performed by airside ground crews cover a lot of territory. That means the ground support equipment (GSE) they require to do their jobs is comprised of a diverse collection of vehicles, tools, safety equipment, and stock. It’s not all baggage carts and aircraft tugs (though those are important too). Paying attention to this variety of equipment, and keeping it updated, can improve the working conditions of airside ground crews. The equipment can make their jobs efficient and less difficult, while increasing their comfort level and safety. If you manage or are otherwise responsible for equipping an airside ground crew, consider the following GSE upgrades, updates, and additions that will improve their time on the apron.
Weather-Appropriate Equipment Ground support crews are often required to work outdoors regardless of the weather. For many crews, that means dealing with sweltering heat in the summer and glacial frigidity in the winter. Providing information on how best to dress for the weather, as well as necessities for weather protection, are simple ways to improve working conditions. For the summer, light, long-sleeved clothing, hats, and sunscreen are always a good idea. Be sure to provide access to air-conditioned shelter and water. In the winter, clothing should be layered, and the heaters in every GSE vehicle should be operational. Additionally, something as simple as a dual-ear headset to cover both ears can make a big difference in freezing weather. Aircraft Tug and Pushback Tractor Safety Features There’s no question that the most important reason to equip an aircraft tug or pushback tractor with safety features is to keep the operator safe. Those safety features often serve the dual purpose of greatly reducing the risk of expensive damage to both the GSE and the aircraft that it’s servicing. The best GSE providers include safety features that come with, or can be installed on, tugs, pushbacks, and tow tractors. Consider the SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System from GSE provider AERO Specialties, which reduces or eliminates overstress damage to an aircraft’s nose gear. It does so by recording and measuring the stress during a tow and alerts the operator to any situations where there is a risk of overstress. Similarly, TLD’s Aircraft Safe Docking (ASD) system prevents collision damage during docking. Other GSE Safety Features There area number of ways for costly (and even dangerous) incidents to occur airside, and a number of safeguards that can be employed to prevent them. Another GSE safety innovation offered by AERO Specialties is the “Safe-Lav” system, which prevents lavatory cart overfill incidents. While lavatory filling isn’t the first thing that comes to mind as a hazardous operation, an overfill accident can cost thousands of dollars and put an aircraft temporarily out of commission. Finding ways in which any GSE can be made safer to use, and reducing the potential for human error, will result in happier ground support crew. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties offers GSE designed to optimize performance for their customers, whether civilian or military, at an FBO, corporate airport, or consumer airport. To additionally ensure excellence, they train each and every member of the AERO Specialties team to be entirely familiar with all of their GSE offerings. So whether you need a safe, powerful aircraft tow tractor or LED marshalling wands, AERO Specialties has you covered. Help your aviation business reach new heights with AERO Specialties, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/33vi2zb While the basic needs of airports big and small, rural and urban, are similar, the equipment that works best to meet those needs isn’t one-size-fits-all. There’s no better example of that dynamic than the ground support equipment (GSE) best suited for seasonal safety maintenance and support. The chances are that a modest rural airport or fixed base operator (FBO) using one vehicle for multiple roles, such as aircraft pushback, deicer, and FOD-collector would find a dedicated deicing truck impractical. At the same time, an urban or busy suburban airport may find itself in trouble without such dedicated equipment. Urban Airports
Deicing Equipment In the winter months, deicing needs to happen quickly, thoroughly, and efficiently to keep the planes in the air. Even relatively short delays can cost an airline significant sums of money and the goodwill of passengers. Plus, insufficient icing can have consequences far more harrowing than lost revenue. Every urban airport should have at least one deicing vehicle that can accommodate type 1 and type 4 deicing fluid. Of course, a robust stock of type 1 and 4 deicing fluid should also be maintained. FOD Detection Equipment Foreign object debris (FOD)is an issue that costs the aerospace industry an estimated $4 billion in damage a year. Heavier aircraft traffic at urban airports means more FOD and more risk of FOD damage to aircraft. To mitigate that risk, urban airports should invest in a robust response such as the Trex FOD Finder Detection System from GSE provider AERO Specialties. The Trex system is the only mobile FOD detection solution approved by the FAA. It implements a millimeter wave radar system capable of detecting, cataloging, and collecting FOD anywhere within the airfield surveilled, day or night, in any weather condition. Rural Deicing Equipment Deicing is no less essential at rural airports and FBOs. The GSE employed for the job is more likely to be an aircraft tug or pickup truck hauling a deicer tank and platform on a hitch than an actual deicing truck. As an airport gets busier, it may require more specialized deicing equipment. FOD Detection Equipment Equipment for dealing with the threat of FOD damage is no less a necessity in smaller aerodromes. FOD-detection GSE as comprehensive and brawny as the Trex system might be overkill for a rural airport. An excellent, task-appropriate alternative to a radar-based FOD detection system is a towable FOD magnet. A high-quality towable FOD magnet, as the name suggests, can be towed behind a vehicle to collect any hazardous debris from the apron, runway and ramps, hangars, and anywhere else it can do damage. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties earned their reputation in the aviation industry by consistently performing as one of the most trustworthy, reliable, and respected ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers, distributors, and innovators. Combining advanced, leading-edge technology with industry-defining manufacturing standards, AERO Specialties produces GSE engineered to optimize any airport or FBO’s operations. Additionally, they ensure that every one of their team members, from the customer service and sales team to their GSE mechanics, are wholly familiar with every piece of equipment, its function, and its operation. Whether your airport or FBO needs a new aircraft ground power unit or a set of LED marshalling wands, AERO Specialties has you covered. Watch your aviation business take off with AERO Specialties supporting you on the ground or in the air, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/2I5hqYW Updating equipment is a difficult decision in any industry. Within the aviation airside support industry, updating, upgrading, or replacing ground support equipment (GSE) to meet environmental and safety standards is a similar conundrum. It’s considered a costly and unfortunately necessary evil, often delayed due to fear of service interruptions. However, advances in GSE technology mean that upgrading or replacing that aircraft tug or lavatory service cart can make it safer and more energy-efficient. These updates are also a great financial opportunity, rather than a burden. Safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective GSE is a win-win-win scenario. A Smart Oxygen and Nitrogen Service System Often, it’s the cumulative cost of the small, persistent wastes of time, labor, stock, and other resources that can sabotage a business, rather than big, catastrophic losses. Any way to reduce the time or number of people it takes to perform a task is a sure expense saver. An example is aircraft oxygen and nitrogen service. An outdated or bulky oxygen service cart could take two or more people to handle and load. Updating to a smaller, more efficient model could reduce that workload to one person. Find a cart that’s heavy-duty enough to hitch to your aircraft tugs but portable enough to move by hand. Be sure that any new service cart comes equipped with a booster system. It saves money, improves efficiency, reduces canister fills, and saves time and labor. A Smart Lavatory Fill System “Costly GSE-related accidents” is likely to conjure images of aircraft damaged in mishaps involving tow tugs and pushback tractors. That is, until the first lavatory system overfill accident, resulting in thousands of dollars of damage to an aircraft. A high-quality lavatory system should have smart features, like a direct-reading delivery system and tank, which negates the risk of bad or broken flow meters. Retrofitting your lavatory service cart is a modest investment that improves efficiency and prevents expensive, messy accidents. Aircraft Tug and Pushback Tractor Monitoring Technology While a lavatory system overfill accident is no joke, damage caused to aircraft during towing can be much more costly, and potentially hazardous. An increasingly popular and successful solution is equipping aircraft tugs with a linear force monitoring system. A good example is the SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System from GSE provider AERO Specialties. The SiPsHitch™ system alerts the operator to the risk of overstress during a tow before any damage is done. As it’s a solution for preventing expensive accidents and recording tow stress, it can improve the disposition of insurance companies and customers toward your operations. Another win-win. A Comprehensive, Sure-Fire FOD Detection Solution Metal foreign object debris (FOD) costs the aviation industry billions of dollars every year. A comprehensive FOD identification and removal system is key to reducing that damage and the costs associated with it. The key is finding one that employs a millimeter wave radar system allowing it to operate day or night, in any weather. To respond effectively when FOD is identified, opt for a mobile detection system, and ensure that it’s FAA approved. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties earned their reputation in the aviation industry by consistently performing as one of the most trustworthy, reliable, and respected ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers, distributors, and innovators. Combining advanced, leading-edge technology with industry-defining manufacturing standards, AERO Specialties produces GSE engineered to optimize any airport or FBO operations. Additionally, they ensure that every one of their team members, from the customer service and sales team to their GSE mechanics, are wholly familiar with every piece of equipment, its function, and its operation. Whether your airport or FBO needs a sturdy, powerful aircraft tow tractor, or a set of LED marshalling wands, AERO Specialties has you covered. Watch your aviation business take off with AERO Specialties supporting you on the ground, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/32BEiaq It can be difficult running any small business in a field shared by far bigger ones. Big businesses have a number of advantages (like an aircraft tug fleet, in this case) over their smaller competitors. They have more resources and they offer more amenities. They have a far more robust advertising budget, and perhaps most importantly, they have name recognition. They’re an established presence and a well-known among potential customers and clients. That dynamic can prove disheartening for smaller businesses. Small airports and forward operating bases (FOBs) face these struggles too. However, being small has advantages that no big airport can match. Here are some key distinctions that every airdrome owner or manager should focus on in order to attract personal planes as well as private, corporate, and executive aircraft. Less Stressful Approaching, Landing, and Taxiing The bigger an airport gets, the busier it gets. That doesn’t just apply to aircraft and passengers. Another jetliner means another aircraft pushback, another baggage cart, and all the other ground support equipment (GSE) and personnel required to service it. Small airports and FOBs aren’t crawling with as many crew, craft, or GSE. The tower isn’t rushing the private and executive jets on and off of the runway. There’s no nerve-wracking runway-sharing or stressful navigation on the ground. The pilots and passengers of smaller aircraft will appreciate the pace of a smaller operation. No Holding In addition to the hurrying smaller craft face when using large airports, there’s the holding. Big airports get very busy. Organizing the dozens or hundreds of flights that are arriving at and departing from an airport every day often requires aircraft to be put into holding patterns. Waiting for runway space to open up can be extremely frustrating. It means more fuel burned and more time lost for airline and private pilots. It’s far less likely at a smaller airdrome. More Personal Service Personal service is something people enjoy and appreciate, and it provides a number of practical benefits. Private or executive pilots using a smaller airfield get to know the staff and crew running it, and the staff and crew get to know them. The staff can learn the pilots’ and passengers’ preferences, such as how much storage space they’ll need and what GSE their craft might require. That kind of personal help and attention can save those pilots a lot of time and hassle. Fewer Security Delays A large airport’s security protocols can cause delays, mix-ups, and other headaches. No doubt anyone reading this is very familiar with them. Every extra minute private and executive pilots and passengers can save, and every hassle they can avoid by using your airdrome is a solid point in your favor. With fewer requirements—especially if an airfield doesn’t handle international flights—landing at a smaller operation can save significant time in security procedure. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties is one of the aviation industry’s most reliable manufacturers and distributors of ground support equipment (GSE). By combining cutting-edge innovations in recent technology with the most exacting manufacturing standards, they produce GSE designed to optimize any FBO or airport’s operations. AERO Specialties also ensures that each member of their team, from the GSE mechanics to sales and customer service, is thoroughly familiar with all the equipment, their functions, and operation. Basically, if your aviation business needs it, from their standard-setting aircraft ground power unit line to an LED marshalling wand, AERO Specialties will have it. Make AERO Specialties your copilot to launch your aviation business to unreached heights, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/301vmdt 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 moving to electric hybrid and, eventually, fully electric vehicles. Due to the massive fuel consumption of jetliners, they’ve gotten much of the public attention when the subject of aviation emission-reduction is brought up. On the other hand, updating every aircraft tug and stair-truck is a vital step on the way to a low-emissions operation. The transition has already begun, with several airports and airlines in Europe and Oceania moving toward 100% electric GSE and shuttle fleets. The transition doesn’t have to be instant. Replacing old vehicles with new electric GSE such as an Electric Baggage/Cargo Tow Tractor is a step in the right direction. Optimizing Fleet Management Whether the GSE in a fleet are internal combustion, hybrid, or fully electric, inefficient use of those GSE is an energy (and money) waster. One of the most common, important, and effective tools for optimizing the use of GSE is fleet management software. A sound fleet management software system, particularly when combined with solid telematics, can be a huge efficiency boon. The more efficient a fleet, the more money saved, even if it runs on combustion fuel. Organization and Standardization in Airport Management One of the more frustrating scenarios the manager of a GSE fleet can face is challenges to efficiency that they have no control over. It’s not uncommon for the airport, each airline, and a ground crew to have separate service level agreements. The specific details and procedures those agreements describe are also not always entirely clear, and communication is certainly not always ensured. If the details of specific territories, routes, and the other details of GSE use are not hammered out between the different parties involved, then bottlenecks, delays, and even the risk of accidents can ensue. Beginning an initiative to establish some standardization and communication protocols between different parties can save a lot of headaches and strife. Implementing GSE Pooling Going hand in hand with communication between groups sharing the same airside work environment, GSE pooling is another popular solution. GSE pooling is when all of an airport or terminal’s ground crews share a communal collection of GSE. GSE pooling reduces the number of GSE vehicles in use at any one time on the apron by ensuring they’re only being used when needed. It saves fuel, reduces congestion, and compels the sort of inter-crew and inter-agency communication that can serve an airport’s airside work environment, as well as reduce carbon emissions. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties is one of the aviation industry’s most reliable manufacturers and distributors of ground support equipment (GSE). By combining cutting-edge innovations in recent technology with the most exacting manufacturing standards, they produce GSE designed to optimize any FBO or airport’s operations. AERO Specialties also ensures that each member of their team, from the GSE mechanics to sales and customer service, is thoroughly familiar with all the equipment, their functions, and operation. Basically, if your aviation business needs it, from a high-powered aircraft tow tractor to an LED marshalling wand, AERO Specialties will have it. Make AERO Specialties your copilot to launch your aviation business to new heights, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/2MTPH0o Being a member of an airside ground crew is already stressful enough. On top of the high-dollar, high-stress, fast-moving, and physically demanding nature of the work, it’s a dangerous place to be. They’re working in and around aircraft pushback tugs, tow tractors, baggage carts, and the other ground support equipment (GSE) in operation, not to mention the massive airliners. The last thing someone in a such a sensitive workplace needs is the addition of extra pain points, or an avoidable failure.
Communication Within a Ground Crew Communication is likely the most effective way for a work crew to improve the safety and efficiency of their operations. In addition to the general communication protocols between operators of GSE, the ground operations manager, and anyone else pertinent, specific training for communication during stressful events or emergencies is extremely important. Incorporating communication-enhancing technology can also make a big difference. That technology includes anything from noise-canceling headsets to fleet-linking telematics systems. Communication with Other Crews and Flight Staff Even among ground crews that feature excellent intra-squad communication, real problems can crop up if the same communication standards don’t apply outside the crew. Setting up open lines of communication with other airlines’ crews, if they haven’t been (well) established, should include clear protocols describing how to get in touch, and who with, for each crew. A miscommunication or oversight resulting in one crew’s aircraft tug blocking another’s path or access can result in delays, major inconveniences, and lots of money lost. The importance and effectiveness of inter-crew communication and cooperation certainly aren’t being overlooked in the industry. In fact, it’s practically illustrated by the increasingly popular trend of GSE pooling and similarly cooperative initiatives. Technological Innovations Contributing to Safety and Efficiency Technology can prove one of the most effective ways to promote safety and ensure efficiency. The earlier-mentioned telematics systems link up entire fleets, provide real-time data on their location, their use status, and even their maintenance status. Being familiar with the location and status of every piece of GSE in a fleet can prove invaluable. More specific innovations, a good example being the SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System from GSE manufacturer AERO Specialties, can make ground crew life far easier as well. The SiPsHitch™ system tracks and records the stress being applied to the nose gear of aircraft while being towed, warning operators of potential overstress in time to prevent damage. A mixture of solid technology and effective training can address a large number of pain points. About AERO Specialties AERO Specialties is among the most trusted, respected, reliable ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturers and distributors in the world. Employing leading-edge technological innovation and the most stringent manufacturing standards means their GSE can optimize the operations of any airport orFixed Base Operator (FBO). To better serve their customers, AERO Specialties ensures that every member of their staff, from the mechanics to the sales team and customer service, is entirely familiar with the GSE and its operation. In short, AERO Specialties has everything your aviation business needs, be it a high-performance aircraft ground power unit or their innovative SiPsHitch™ Linear Force Monitoring System. Partner with AERO Specialties to take your aviation business to the stratosphere and beyond, at Aerospecialties.com Original Source: http://bit.ly/2JSR5O3 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 |
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