Aviation Stack Exchange
Aviation Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [ground-operations]

Servicing an aircraft on the ground before or after flight

Ground operations (or ground handling) covers all servicing of an aircraft on the ground before or after flight, including:

  • Refueling
  • Cleaning
  • De-icing
  • Loading/unloading cargo and passengers
  • Providing catering and other supplies

Maintenance is usually not considered to be part of ground handling, neither is taxiing or repositioning the aircraft on the ground.

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Why are the aircraft in this image parked this way?

Why are these parked asymmetrically? And how can a plane owner get to their plane if it's on the farthest end? Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Noorul Quamar
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What would be the hazard of raising flaps on the ground?

I was reading ASRS report when I found something I don’t understand. What would be the hazard of raising flaps on the ground? What bad thing can happen? However, with all the activity around the aircraft, including refueling, it was not safe to…
vasin1987
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How high do they cut the grass on airports?

I've read that they try to keep it short. But on other sites and documentaries, it is said that they have to keep it long so that the birds don't look for food. Which is correct: short or long?
user13197
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I have a document referring to aircraft with maximum takeoff weight of 45000T. Is this an error?

I got the attached document from http://www.aisthai.aviation.go.th/. This document refers to aircraft with MTOW 45000T. Is that 45000 tons? That's pretty heavy for me. Or am I interpreting the document incorrectly?
vasin1987
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What are the names of the vehicles to provide assistance to aircraft during the turnaround?

During the turnaround many vehicles support the aircraft on the gate. What are the name of those "vehicles"and their purpose?
eduardoguilherme
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What is the power rating of the ground power unit for Bombardier Dash 8 Q400?

I am researching about ground power units for aircrafts and I need the power rating requirements (kW/kVA rating) of ground power units to supply electrical power to Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 and Embraer E145. I know that aircraft need 115VAC and 28VDC,…
krish
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How does push forward work?

From Facebook video shows a BA aircraft being pushed forward into a hangar. I wonder how it works? Do they rotate nose wheel 180 degree to push it or there is attachment point for the tug to push forward?
vasin1987
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What's the difference between CPM and LDM?

I know CPM is cargo pallet message and LDM is load distribution message, but what's the difference between them ?
X02
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What is the cart and cable connected to this plane?

During boarding I noticed many times that planes are "connected" with some orange cable. It's curious to know what is it. Does anybody knows?
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Can pilots hear a car horn while on the ground?

In this question I asked about the pilot's ability to give a signal to others nearby while on the ground. My question here is, if someone else wants to get the pilot's attention on the ground, could the pilot hear someone honking a car horn from the…
vasin1987
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How does an aircraft move on the ground?

Does an aircraft such as Airbus or Boeing have motors similar to cars, so that they turn the wheels? or do they move on the ground with their engines, the same way they fly?
MOON
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How do aircraft steer on ground?

How do modern aircraft steer on the ground? Do they have a steering wheel which moves the front wheel (left/right). I see that there is a Tug vehicle which pushes the aircraft backwards, so the aircraft does not have a reverse gear for sure. Does…
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Does the VDGS have a sign for stopping too early?

I got a report from one our personnel who was watching the aircraft going in the stand under the Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS). The aircraft was forwarding with extreme cautions and the captain kept her eye on the display that was showing…
G Song
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What does this vehicle transport?

I've seen on many airports a lot of vehicles transporting some "brown boxes". Any idea of what is this? (I don't ask what's exactly inside this box, just in general) Source: 123rf.com What that may be? Baggage? : in case that boxes contain…
user13197
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