What kind of cars drive around the plane and why?

Let’s figure out what kind of machines are driving around your plane and why, as well as what processes are going on with the plane on the ground.

Catering services. Such services include the production and delivery of in-flight meals for airlines. Catering also includes unloading unused food and beverages from the aircraft and loading fresh ones, separately for passengers and crew.

Refueling services. Fuel enters the aircraft’s tanks from fuel dispensers or from hydrant pumps (at large airports). Since aircraft tanks are located in the wing, refueling takes place through hatches in the wing of the aircraft.

Aircraft cleaning. The main purpose of this service is to ensure passenger comfort. The washing service, in addition to cabin cleaning, deals with the replenishment of in-flight supplies (soap, tissues, toilet paper, press) and reusable items (pillows and plaids).

Ground power unit (GPU – ground power unit). This vehicle supplies power to aircraft parked on the ground. It provides power to the aircraft while it is parked when the engines and the back-up propulsion system are not running, to save fuel and money.

Air Launch Unit (ASU – AirStart Unit). A vehicle with an integrated gas turbine engine that delivers the required amount of high-pressure air to start the engine of an aircraft.

Air Conditioning Unit (ACU). A special unit that provides air conditioning inside the aircraft while it is parked and serviced on the apron.

Drinking Water Vehicle. A special vehicle delivering high quality drinking water to the aircraft. The water is stored in special tanks, filtered there, and then transported to the aircraft with a powerful pump.

Vehicle for the maintenance of toilets. This vehicle is used to empty and refill toilets on board aircraft. Waste is stored in tanks on the aircraft until these vehicles can empty them at the parking lot. Once the tank is emptied on the aircraft, it is filled with a mixture of water and disinfectant concentrate.

Passenger ladders. These vehicles help passengers and personnel from the doors of the airplane to the ground. Since large airplanes have door thresholds from 1.5 m to 6 m high, these stairs make boarding faster and safer.

Belt loaders. These vehicles with conveyor belts are needed at airports to quickly unload and load luggage and cargo to a given height into the luggage compartment of the aircraft.

Transporters. These are cargo platforms designed so that in addition to loading and unloading containers, they can also carry cargo. They are used to carry containers of luggage, pallets of cargo, etc.

De-icing vehicles. Aircraft de-icing is done on special vehicles from which operators spray the right mixture. This liquid melts the ice on the aircraft and also prevents the accumulation of fresh ice while waiting on the ground.

Aircraft towing. This is a special procedure at the airport in which the aircraft is pushed from its parking spot to the taxiway using an external power source. The pushback is done by a special vehicle – pushback tractor, which slightly lifts the front landing gear strut of the aircraft and pushes it in the right direction.

Also in airports you will always see carts (used to transport luggage between the plane and the terminal), parking pads (used to prevent the aircraft from moving when parked), tripods (a special device used to support the parked aircraft to prevent it from sinking or even falling to the ground).