The ground handling process varies among
airlines and airports as airlines often subcontract ground handling work to 3rd
party companies, which can be local contractors or even other airlines.
If you are interested to avail airport ground handling services, then you need to contact a reputed service
provider firm in India.
Here’re
the basics:
1.
Aircraft marshalling guides the
plane to the parking position at a gate loading bridge or remote position
2.
Connecting the aircraft to
preconditioned air and ground power. These types of equipment are not available
everywhere, however they reduce usage of jet fuel.
3.
Luggage and air cargo handling
to unload belly cargo. This process utilizes baggage tractors and belt loaders.
4.
Cabin cleaning usually occurs
at the gate however when the aircraft parks for the night, more extensive
cleaning might happen at a remote parking position.
5.
Catering involves unloading
food from the previous flight and loading food for a future one
6.
Lavatory draining can be self
explanatory.
7.
Refuelling is managed through
tanker trucks or a hydrant fueling system.
8.
Deicing involves removing ice
from the aircraft to improve safety in inclement weather.
9.
Pushing back from the gate
occurs with the help of a push-back tractor.
There’re quite a few departments that are
responsible for Aircraft Handling. Airport is a mix of Physical and Intelligent
challenges.
How much does ramp service or ground
handling cost airlines on average?
Handling cost is ten to fifteen percent of
the total cost of an airline.
Per turnaround it varies a lot from less
than US $1000 for a regional jet at a small airport to more than US $5000 for a
wide body aircraft at a major airport.
Are there any unique ground handling
services that are not offered by all airports?
There’re only a couple of airports that
have what we call "carnet concierge" services for travellers and
their carnet goods if they’re being hand-carried.
In virtually all airports except LAX, JFK
and ORD, if you’re travelling with a carnet and hand-carried goods you’re on your
own to navigate the security, baggage checking, customs, and validation of your
ATA Carnet.
What is a typical work day like for
the aircraft ground handling crew at an airport?
1. Shared duties:
No matter your assignment for the day, you
will likely end up doing some marshalling.
This means welcoming the aircraft &
pointing them in the direction of the gate they need to taxi to or basically
directing the pilots along the J-line.
Likewise, you might end up marshalling the
plane out toward the taxiway. All personnel do a brief cleaning of the aircraft
interior for flights which arrive and depart within 1.5 hrs.
Duties include vacuuming, seatbelt folding,
trash pickup and tray wipe down. The plane is taken to the maintenance hangar
and thoroughly cleaned and restocked for RONs (remain over night).
2. Baggage Runner:
This person will assist with the unload
operation and transport bags to the conveyor belt system inside the airport
building. It is also responsible for transporting oversize bags or freight.
3. Catering:
It is basically overseeing the restocking
of various foodstuffs and beverages on the aircraft.
4. Bag well:
Checked bags from the ticket counter are
sent here through conveyor belt for counting and x-ray scanning before loading
onto plane.
5. Pit/Bellies:
It is basically loading or unloading bags
and freight onto the aircraft. Also you can communicate with pilots via radio
and operates pushback tractor.
6. Jet way:
It is basically for aligning Jetway to
aircraft for passenger board or deboard.
7. Lavatory:
It is basically dumping aircraft waste
reservoirs.
8. Ground:
It is not an official assignment; more of a
floater. It gives support wherever needed. When we’re not taking care of a
flight, we’re typically hanging out in the break room playing cards.
What are the advantages to an airline
of joining an alliance?
Airline alliances exist mainly because of
practical limitations on airline mergers especially across borders.
Alliances allow airlines to get the
benefits of larger networks like operational economies of scale and network
benefits of a larger route network.
Key advantages:
1.
Increased traffic / revenue per
seat mile
2.
Improved frequent flyer program
3.
Cost savings
4.
Brand (particularly important
for smaller emerging market airlines)
·
Higher perceived safety
·
Higher perceived service
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