AIRPORT APRON

Credit :CIDROY PAES

GROUND HANDLING SERVICES

Cabin service Catering services Ramp/apron services Field operation service Passenger service

The major categories of ground handling services are described below.

INTRODUCTION The apron is designated by the ICAO as not

being part of the maneuvering area. All vehicles, aircraft and people using the apron are referred to as apron traffic.

The word apron is the ICAO and FAA terminology (the word ramp is not), so the word ramp is not used with this meaning outside the US, Canada, Maldives, and the Philippines.

OVERVIEWThe Airport Apron is the area of an airport where 

aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refuelled, or boarded. 

The apron is not usually open to the general public and a license may be required to gain access.

The use of the apron may be controlled by the apron management service (apron control or apron advisory) to provide coordination between the users.

WHO ARE RAMP AGENT ? . Ramp agents are also known as baggage

handlers and loaders or as aircraft load agents. A common airline slang term for a ramp agent is "ramper" or "below the wing employee" to denote the ramp agent's particular on-the-ground work environment.

Agents load and unload suitcases, luggage and cargo from aircraft and transportation hubs. A high school diploma or the equivalent is the standard educational requirement for this position.

DUTIES OF RAMP AGENT Ramp agents are also known as baggage

handlers and loaders or as aircraft load agents. A common airline slang term for a ramp agent is "ramper" or "below the wing employee" to denote the ramp agent's particular on-the-ground work environment.

ramp agents/baggage handlers are responsible for marshaling aircraft, and loading/unloading and sorting freight and baggage. Ramp agent/baggage handler duties also include servicing aircraft, assisting with aircraft pushback and towing, deicing and other duties as assigned.

SERVICES ON THE RAMP OR APRON Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking position (by way of 

aircraft marshalling), Towing with pushback tractors Lavatory drainage Water cartage (typically non-potable for lavatory sink use) Air conditioning (more common for smaller aircraft) Airstart units (for starting engines) Luggage handling, usually by means of beltloaders and baggage carts Gate checked luggage, often handled on the tarmac as passengers disembark Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo dollies and cargo loaders Catering trucks Refueling, which may be done with a refueling tanker truck or refueling pumper Ground power (so that engines need not be running to provide aircraft power on the

ground) Passenger stairs (used instead of an aerobridge or airstairs, some budget airlines use

both to improve turnaround speed) Wheelchair lifts, if required Hydraulic mules (units that provide hydraulic power to an aircraft externally) Deicing

AIRCRAFT MARSHALLINGGuiding the aircraft into and out of the parking position (by way of aircraft marshalling),

TOWING Towing with pushback tractors

LAVATORY DRAINAGE

WATER CARTAGE (TYPICALLY NON-POTABLE FOR LAVATORY SINK USE)

AIR CONDITIONING (MORE COMMON FOR SMALLER AIRCRAFT)

AIRSTART UNITS (FOR STARTING ENGINES)

LUGGAGE HANDLING, USUALLY BY MEANS OF BELTLOADERS AND BAGGAGE CARTS

GATE CHECKED LUGGAGE, OFTEN HANDLED ON THE TARMAC AS PASSENGERS DISEMBARK

AIR CARGO HANDLING, USUALLY BY MEANS OF CARGO DOLLIES AND CARGO LOADERS

CATERING TRUCKS

REFUELING, WHICH MAY BE DONE WITH A REFUELING TANKER TRUCK OR REFUELING PUMPER

GROUND POWER (SO THAT ENGINES NEED NOT BE RUNNING TO PROVIDE AIRCRAFT POWER ON THE GROUND)

PASSENGER STAIRS (USED INSTEAD OF AN AEROBRIDGE OR AIRSTAIRS, SOME BUDGET AIRLINES USE BOTH TO IMPROVE TURNAROUND SPEED).WHEELCHAIR IF REQUIRED

HYDRAULIC MULES (UNITS THAT PROVIDE HYDRAULIC POWER TO AN AIRCRAFT EXTERNALLY)

DEICING

THANK YOU