Are you an aviation buff? Do you know everything there is to know about airplanes? Maybe it's time to deepen your knowledge of another side of the business: ground support equipment. Here are some quirky facts to get you started.
1. "Chock" is a verb
Concern for safety has always been a keystone of the aviation industry. Assessing weather conditions. Maintaining planes. Reducing risks.
A lesser known aspect of airplane safety is "chocking." Chocks are wood or rubber wedges that are placed behind the wheels of a parked airplane to prevent accidental rolling.
2. Emptying the Lavatory is One of the Good Jobs
When an airplane lands, a lav agent must empty its lavatory system. Thanks to today's ground support equipment technology, this job is more pleasant than it sounds.
Bonus fact: after a lavatory system is emptied, it is refilled with a disinfectant mix known as "blue juice."
3. Boarding Ramps: The Most Glamorous
Ground Support Equipment
Passenger boarding stairs allow passengers to access aircraft from the ground. It is the only type of
ground support equipment to come with an optional red carpet.
4. De-Icing is Also a Preventative Measure
The mixture that is sprayed onto the exterior of airplanes to melt ice also helps prevent new ice from building up.
5. A Catering Truck Does Double Duty in Uruguay
A wheelchair-bound traveller posted a video online of his arrival at an airport in Montevideo, Uruguay, where enterprising staff used a catering truck to help him off the plane. Top marks for creative use of
ground support equipment!
6. Baggage Handler or Security Guard? The Case of Scotland's John Smeaton
On June 30, 2007, John Smeaton was off duty from his job as baggage handler at Glasgow International Airport when he helped thwart a terrorist attack. A tribute website was later set up in his honour, where admirers could donate a pint of beer in his name. Smeaton is said to have donated half of the money to a network of homes for veterans.
That September, he was invited to Ground Zero in New York City for the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In 2009, Smeaton ran for Parliament, but lost. It just goes to show that one never knows where a career in ground support equipment may lead.
7. Is that a Bus or a People Mover?
One of the most interesting aspects of ground support equipment are the interesting nicknames for people and things. Some of the buses that carry passengers from the terminal to the waiting plane are called "people movers."
8. Not all Nicknames are Nice
Baggage handlers are sometimes called "rampies." There are, however, some less complimentary nicknames for this job, including:
- ramp rat
- bag smasher
- thrower
Ground support equipment is an important part of the aviation industry, and, as such, has spawned many interesting stories of its own.
