LATEST ISSUE
Spring 2022
Welcome to the Spring 2022 issue of Airside International, in which we take a good look at the hangar and hangar door business, as well as communications on the apron. The downturn in the aviation industry seems to have been ridden with some success by the big players in these somewhat niche markets.
Our third feature is a regular one – looking at high lifts and loaders – in which Megan Ramsay assesses the continuing move towards electric equipment – though this trend has also been affected by the pandemic and its impact on aviation.
We meet with Don Bergin, president of US-based ground run-up enclosure provider BDI, Inc, to see how his company has continued to flourish, as well as with ground power unit supplier Dynell and refuelling equipment manufacturer Elaflex.
Mallaghan director Niall Mallaghan explains how his Northern Ireland-headquartered company continues to put the focus on ‘Innovation in Aviation’, while start-up Waev Inc sees the GSE of the future being powered by electric batteries, and lithium-ion in particular. GSE provider Textron, too, is emphasising its green credentials, and is working with US automotive giant General Motors to strengthen its electric offering.
We also chat with a number of ground handlers – Aviator, Groundforce Portugal and Unifi – who offer their thoughts on how ground service providers can ride out the ongoing storm.
Finally, London Oxford Airport is an airport on the up, benefiting from one area of aviation that has actually done well out of the downturn in regular commercial air travel: business aviation.
Take A Peek
Featured in this issue
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‘Deep appreciation’
The buyout of GEM and Taylor-Dunn was made by five former Polaris leaders that for the better part of the last four years had been leading these businesses, Simon explains. “This group has a deep a...
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Aviator follows path of GSE sustainability
When acquiring ground support equipment to cope with new business, aviation services provider Aviator Airport Alliance looks to go for environmentally friendly electric equipment as part of a wider fo...
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Building capability to meet increasing demand
The UK’s fifth-busiest business aviation gateway, London Oxford Airport, has announced a significant enhancement of its rescue and firefighting capability. This represents just one example of how Lo...
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Communicating safely and effectively on the ramp
Wireless communication systems that link members of a ground handling crew with each other and with an aircraft flight deck are fast being regarded as a safer and more efficient option than traditiona...
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Dynell’s vision to revolutionise
Mistelbach bei Wels, Austria-headquartered Dynell specialises in power systems for the aviation industry: in particular, diesel ground power units (GPUs), solid-state GPUs, charging systems, pit syste...
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Elaflex upgrades and expands its offering
Hamburg, Germany-based refuelling equipment supplier Elaflex has continued to develop new products and upgrade existing lines throughout the pandemic Elaflex’s latest improvements include the VHD...
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Groundforce Portugal: quality assured
Portugal’s biggest handler had to make cuts at the five Portuguese stations at which it handles, but it has continued to sign up new carrier customers and points to this as evidence of its focus on ...
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Keeping aircraft secure on the ground
Aircraft hangars can be used for many things – typically, simply for storage, whether overnight or for longer periods, or as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities – but they and their ...
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Keeping the noise down
Reno, Nevada‐based Blast Deflectors Inc. (BDI), a specialist in solutions for minimising the noise and jet blast impacts of aircraft engine run‐ups, has been contracted by the Canadian manufacture...
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Mallaghan offers ‘Innovation in Aviation’
In January, Dungannon, Northern Ireland-headquartered GSE manufacturer Mallaghan announced that it was looking to recruit at least 40 more staff at its home base, as well as perhaps 10 or so more empl...
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Satisfaction at Hamburg
Another gateway benefiting from Dynell systems is German’s Hamburg Airport. Martin Schneider, an electrical engineer in the real estate management division at Hamburg is, amongst other things, respo...
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Stringent processes
London Oxford Airport’s RFSS went through a stringent process of gearing up for certification to Category 6 status. Fire services manager Richard Oakes explains that the RFFS team made changes follo...
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Textron and GM collaborate on EV technology
In December, Detroit, Michigan-headquartered car giant General Motors (GM) announced that it was looking to broaden its electric vehicle (EV) technology into new automotive applications. One of those ...
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Unifi stays strong
Despite the harsh downturn in flight operations in its key market, US aviation services provider Unifi continues to handle for most of the big American airlines that operate strong domestic networks. ...
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Vienna Airport benefits from Dynell technology
Stefan Hammerl, project manager airside infrastructure and facilities at Vienna International Airport, offers his thoughts on the value of Dynell’s static converters and plugs. Vienna operates Dyne...
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Waev Inc acquires tow tractor supplier Taylor-Dunn
Anaheim, California-based Waev Inc has acquired the Taylor-Dunn and GEM businesses from Polaris Inc in a management buyout that was completed on the last day of last year. Polaris purchased Taylor-Dun...
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Ups and downs
The shift to ‘greener’ technology is still a growing trend among the airside community around the world, and GSE manufacturers are working hard to keep up with rising demand for non-diesel high li...
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