Ground Support Equipment (GSE): Types, Uses, and Trends for Airports

To keep commercial aircraft functioning safely and comfortably, airport staff do a lot of maintenance. They load baggage, refuel the plane, de-ice the wings, replenish bathroom supplies, and more.

To accomplish these tasks and more, ground crews rely on a wide range of tools, vehicles, and machines. Collectively, these resources are called ground support equipment (GSE), because they support aircraft on the ground. 

According to the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 14 CFR 158.3, ground support equipment is defined as: 

“…service and maintenance equipment used at an airport to support aeronautical operations and related activities. Baggage tugs, belt loaders, cargo loaders, forklifts, fuel trucks, lavatory trucks, and pushback tractors are among the types of vehicles that fit this definition.” 

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) provides a similar definition, describing ground support equipment as: 

“…the broad category of vehicles and equipment that service aircraft, including those used for towing, maintenance, loading and unloading of passengers and cargo, and for providing electric power, fuel, and other services to the aircraft.” 

In short, if you use it to service an aircraft, it’s probably GSE. This is a field of technology that’s always advancing, and airport operators can realize incredible productivity benefits by keeping up with the trends. This article can help. 

Here’s a comprehensive introduction to ground support equipment for today’s airport operator. Keep reading to learn about the most common types of ground support equipment, how these solutions help, and what’s new in the field of commercial aviation ground support. We’ll conclude with some tips for managing today’s biggest trend in airport GSE: the transition from gas power to electric vehicles. 

For help choosing EV charging infrastructure to support your electric GSE fleet, contact the Solus Group team at 314-696-0200 today. 

Common Types of Ground Support Equipment

Ground support equipment usually falls into one of three categories: 

1. Aircraft Service, Maintenance, and Handling
2. Passenger Support
3. Cargo and Baggage Handling

Here’s a quick look at some of the most common types of GSE in each of these three categories. 

1. GSE for Aircraft Maintenance, Service, and Handling

This category of ground support equipment includes all the tools ground crews use to resupply and maintain aircraft while they’re on the ground. This list isn’t comprehensive, but it includes many of the most common types of GSE for aircraft service. 

• Pushback tractors and tugs: These powerful pushing-and-towing vehicles attach to nose gear to move aircraft between gates, runways, and hangars. 
• Ground power units (GPUs): These portable electrical generators provide power to aircraft cabins when the engines and auxiliary power units (APUs) are off.   
• Pre-conditioned air (PCA) units: These air-conditioning carts support flight-crew comfort while aircraft are on the ground. 
• Aircraft refueling trucks: These fuel tankers pump jet fuel into aircraft tanks. 
• Potable water trucks: These vehicles are loaded with fresh water tanks for refilling water supplies in aircraft galleys and lavatories. 
• Lavatory service vehicles: These trucks empty onboard waste tanks and refill lavatory fluid to keep aircraft lavatories functional.  
• De-icing vehicles: These are trucks loaded with de-icing fluids and outfitted with spray nozzles on elevated booms, which remove ice from aircraft surfaces. 
• Air start units: An air-start unit (ASU) is a machine that pushes out high volumes of compressed air, which helps to start aircraft engines when built-in starters are down or absent. 

Of course, GSE doesn’t just support the aircraft itself. It can also help passengers and crew access the aircraft — and enjoy a more comfortable flight.  

2. GSE for Passenger Support

Sometimes, the line between “passenger support” and “aircraft support” is thin. You could easily categorize PCA units, potable water carts, and lavatory service trucks as GSE for passenger comfort, for instance. That said, here are some types of GSE most commonly considered passenger support tools. 

• Passenger boarding stairs: Jet bridges aren’t available in every airport environment. Even if they are, ground and flight crews may need to access the aircraft before the bridge is deployed. That’s where passenger boarding stairs can help. These robust mobile stairways — also called “airsteps” or “boarding steps” — provide safe access from the ground to the aircraft door.  
• Apron passenger buses: These mobile lounges or “people movers” drive passengers from terminals to distant aircraft. 
• Catering trucks. Catering trucks at airports don’t just carry meals and galley supplies. They also use integrated scissor lifts to simplify loading onto the aircraft.  

In addition to meals and supplies, of course, airport crews have to load aircraft with baggage — and, depending on the flight, sometimes freight, too.

3. GSE for Cargo/Baggage Handling

Carrying cargo is very different from a passenger flight, but the GSE that helps to load aircraft is similar for each. Here are some of the top tools for loading and unloading planes.   

• Scissor-lift cargo loaders: Also called “cargo high loaders,” “K loaders,” or “pallet loaders,” these mobile scissor lifts typically feature two independent platforms that can elevate (or lower) cargo from ground to cargo bay and back. 
• Baggage carts: These are rolling carts that hold high volumes of baggage. They’re typically designed as trailers, with hitches that can be connected to one another or to a baggage tug. 
• Baggage tugs: These tractor units pull baggage trains made up of multiple baggage trailers or freight carts. They transport baggage from the terminal to the aircraft and vice versa.
• Belt loaders: Once baggage trains reach the aircraft, contents still need to move from the cart to the cargo hold. Belt loaders are vehicles with angled conveyor belts that move baggage from the ground to the aircraft and back again.   

While the specific use cases for each of these types of GSE are clear, ground crews use multiple types of GSE to complete important tasks. Next, we’ll take a closer look at some of the broad use cases for ground support equipment.  

Learn more: Airport Ground Vehicles: Choosing Electric GSE

Operational Use Cases for Ground Support Equipment

Here are some of the big jobs in airport ground operations that require GSE.

1. Aircraft Turnaround (i.e., Between-Flight Service)  

In airport lingo, “turnaround” is the process of servicing a just-landed aircraft between flights. Some turnarounds can be quite quick, while others take longer — but they all involve some combination of the following processes: 

• The aircraft lands and approaches the gate. Ground crews may use tractors or tugs to get the aircraft into position.
• Passengers disembark, sometimes using passenger boarding stairs.
• Ground crews unload baggage and cargo using belt loaders, cargo loaders, tugs, and trailers.
• Staff refuels the aircraft with a refueling tanker.
• Cabin crews clean the interior of the aircraft and replenish supplies. Ground support equipment for this step includes potable water trucks, lavatory service vehicles, GPUs, PSAs, and catering trucks.  
• Technicians inspect the aircraft and complete maintenance tasks. They may use de/anti-icing vehicles and other relevant tools.
• The next set of passengers boards the aircraft with either jet bridges or boarding stairs. 

This process repeats between each flight, until the aircraft is ready to retire to the hangar.  

2. Aircraft Mobility

Aircraft generally shouldn’t taxi in reverse. There are lots of reasons for this: Pilots can’t see behind them. Reverse thrust is too powerful to use around airport infrastructure, let alone personnel. It can also shoot debris into engines.

Airports may not want aircraft to taxi forwards under their own power. That burns valuable jet fuel and adds to the carbon footprint. But a landed aircraft still needs to move between gates, hangars, and runways. 

So, whether the aircraft is moving in reverse or forwards, ground crews use GSE like tugs and tractors to get planes from one place to another.    

3. Power and Air Supply

When aircraft are on the ground, their engines are typically turned off. That means jets can’t provide power, climate control, or fresh air. Ground support equipment like GPUs and PCAs step in to keep these vital resources functioning while the aircraft is stuck on land. 

Electricity and air conditioning are important for technicians working inside the aircraft, as well as pilots and flight crews who don’t have time to disembark between journeys. 

The ground support equipment that helps to complete all these jobs may be powered or non-powered. If these solutions use power, however, it can come from gas or electricity. Next, we’ll compare the three sources of power for GSE: manual power, electricity, and gas.

Electric Vs. Gas-Powered Vs. Manual GSE

Manual ground support equipment costs the least to operate and maintain. It’s also pretty limited in application. For example, here are some of the most common types of manual GSE at today’s airports: 

• Aircraft wheel chocks
• Baggage carts and trailers
• Aircraft tripod jacks
• Maintenance stands and platforms
• Service carts and dollies

Learn more: GSE Airport Solutions: Powered Vs. Manual Equipment 

In terms of powered equipment, the key comparison to understand is between thermo-combustion engines and electric motors. 

Gas-powered GSE offers the benefits of quick refueling, generally lower upfront costs, and consistent performance across environmental conditions. However, they’re inefficient compared to electric motors, especially when you consider how much idle time most GSE vehicles encounter. Maintenance downtime is usually higher for internal combustion engines than electric motors, too. 

Electric GSE is incredibly energy-efficient, both in terms of power costs and work output. Electric motors are great at stop-and-go operation, and they don’t consume resources during idle periods. Electric drivetrains are also simpler than gas-powered ones, so electric GSE has fewer maintenance requirements. Most importantly, perhaps, electric GSE does not emit greenhouse gasses. 

The main disadvantage of electric GSE is charging time. Batteries can take hours to “refuel,” compared to moments in a gas-powered vehicle. That said, there are plenty of ways to offset this drawback. We’ll explain these strategies at the end of this article. First, however, we’ll look into the main trends in GSE that every airport operator should understand.  

Learn more: EVs for Airports: 5 Benefits of Electric GSE

Current Trends in GSE at Commercial Airports

The biggest GSE trend in the aviation industry is the move toward electrical power, and the main force driving this trend is sustainability. The Airports Council International has set the ambitious goal for its member airports to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In order to meet this goal, ground support equipment must move away from gas power as quickly as possible. 

Other trends in airport GSE include: 

• Automation: Autonomous vehicles aren’t the norm in GSE — yet — but this technology is developing rapidly, and major airlines are taking notice. For example, in the Netherlands, the Royal Schiphol Group plans to automate all GSE by 2050 with autonomous baggage tugs and self-driving pushback tractors.
• Telematics: Telematics involves the use of GPS, sensors, and wireless communications to manage assets. This technology is increasingly being applied to GSE, paving the way for real-time GSE tracking, predictive maintenance, and data-driven fleet management.  
• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): Automation and telematics have one thing in common: They’re both part of IIoT, which wirelessly delivers operational data based on sensors built into GSE itself. This can help to reveal GSE usage patterns for better scheduling, fleet right-sizing, and faster aircraft turnaround time.  

As we’ve mentioned, however, electrification is the leading trend in GSE technology. In order to make electric GSE fleets succeed, airport operators need a plan to keep equipment reliably charged. We’ll cover that topic next. 

Learn more: Future-Proofing Airport GSE Equipment With Electrification

Preparing for Electric GSE Fleets With EV Charging Stations

Most traditional GSE is powered by fuel: diesel, gas, or liquid propane. Electric GSE fleets have different needs entirely. 

Rather than fuel stations and gas cans, electric GSE requires EV charging stations designed for safe, simple access. Here are a few tips for building the ideal GSE charging station for a smooth transition to electric fleets.  

1. Keep charging equipment compact. Charging an EV takes longer than filling a fuel tank. You can help offset the time differential by building lots of charging stations and locating them as close to the operational area as possible, where space is often at a premium. Choose charging stands with a small footprint. 
2. Mount multiple chargers on a single EV charging stand. You can further reduce your charging station footprint by using a single installation to charge multiple GSE vehicles. Look for a charger stand that can mount two EV chargers to double space efficiency. 
3. Manage EV charger cables. Long EV charging cables are vulnerable to damage, as vehicles tend to run them over when they sprawl across the ground. Cables can also create tripping hazards. Solve these problems by investing in an EV charging cable management solution that integrates directly into your charger stand. 

Learn more: 4 Airport GSE Fleet Management Tips for Electric Ground Vehicles

The good news is that you can follow all three tips with EV Charger Handling Equipment from Solus Group. Free-standing EV Charger Pedestals support one or two EV chargers on a single compact unit. They’re built for industrial environments, with welded steel construction and a weather-resistant powder coating. And you can easily integrate EV Charger Cable Retractors into your installation, simply by selecting the option at checkout.   

Ready to build the ground support equipment fleet of the future with electric power? Start by developing your charging infrastructure. Contact the sales team at Solus Group to meet all your EV Charger Handling needs: Just call 314-696-0200 today.