Working in a busy international airport always means having the right equipment on hand to be able to effectively manage servicing aircraft as well as moving baggage and passengers. Often, the condition of ground support equipment, as long as it is operating, is not a major consideration.
However, the reality is that when any of the ground support equipment at the airport is old, has continual mechanical problems, or is no longer operating with current safety standards in place; it is time for a replacement.
Constant Failures
A common sign of wear and tear on ground support equipment that is creating a cost drain on an airport facility is constant failures or breakdowns of a particular piece of equipment.
Even if the repairs can be done in-house and only have the equipment off the tarmac for a short period of time, it is still a cost to the facility. Over several of these short or longer duration downtimes, there is considerable loss in efficiency as well as the cost of repairs, time and materials.
Inefficiency
As components on different types of ground support equipment from air conditioners to air starts and cargo loaders start to age, they become less efficient and more inefficient. This can include lower performance and speeds, or other types of issues such as decreased output.
While this is more of an inconvenience, it is also a factor in the overall efficiency of the airport and the speed at which crews can prepare and service aircraft. This, in turn, leads to slower turnaround times, increased risk of flight delays and decreased passenger satisfaction.
Outdated
Even when ground support equipment is still operating reasonably well with only scheduled maintenance and repairs, there is still the issue of lifecycles and the features and technology offered by the equipment.
Older models and outdated equipment is always more at risk for a failure, but it is also less likely to have all the safety features and advanced technology and design improvements found in the newer models.
For any airport, making the decision to replace older, inefficient or unreliable ground support equipment early rather than later is the most cost effective option. Remember that it is possible to use short or long-term equipment rental services to defer the costs of having to make a new purchase until the next budget year.
