Sustainability is strongly felt in the aircraft ground handling industry in general. This is also the case in Central and South America, where sensitivity towards sustainability has developed significantly in recent times.
As a key enabler, innovation is contributing to aircraft ground handling sustainability with various approaches being implemented.
Innovative Approaches
Innovative approaches, such as ground support equipment (GSE), increased energy efficiency, advanced waste management solutions, digitalization and automation, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, green certifications and research and development, are transforming the landscape of sustainable aircraft ground handling in Central and South America, and innovation is essential for the progress of sustainability of aircraft ground handling, according to officials with the UAS International Trip Support Americas team.
“Concrete examples concern the São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) that is integrating electric tow tractors and other electric GSE to reduce emissions and noise. El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá is also exploring electric GSE as part of its environmental strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on diesel-powered equipment and decrease greenhouse gas emissions,” the team points out.
Quito International Airport in Ecuador has implemented energy-efficient lighting and invested in solar panels to generate renewable energy, observes the UAS Americas team.
“This is helping to reduce the airport’s overall energy consumption and carbon emissions. Chile’s Santiago Airport has also adopted energy-saving measures, including light-emitting diode (LED) lighting and solar power projects, contributing to its sustainability efforts,” the teams says. “In addition to electric GSE, São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport is implementing advanced waste sorting and recycling systems to manage the waste generated from ground handling activities better. Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport introduced automated systems for baggage handling and ground operations, which enhance efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of manual processes. Similarly, Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport adopted digital solutions for operations management, including real-time tracking and data analytics, innovations that help optimize ground handling processes, reducing delays and fuel consumption.”
According to Gabriel Serrano, CEO of Aeroservicios USA, the transition in the industry has been slow, but there are increasingly more alternatives and initiatives to apply innovations in sustainability.
“Innovation, however, comes at a higher cost, requires more administrative effort, more research and execution, which unfortunately not all companies end up pursuing. There are already proposals for airport equipment powered by hydrogen, for equipment with batteries for energy supply and air conditioning of aircraft, for tractors with high-voltage systems (shorter charging time and longer discharge time), for trucks for multiple services within airports with electric batteries, etc. However, their cost and complexity in installation or maintenance and other factors prevent them from being maximally implemented in our region,” he observes.
Driving Force
A notable example of how innovation is a driving force behind advancing sustainability in aircraft ground handling includes the move towards electric GSE (eGSE) – i.e., electric baggage tow units (BTU), cargo belt loaders (CBL) and passenger boarding stairs (PBS) - that help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution, affirms David Fernandez, head of fleet at Swissport International.
“The introduction of telematics in the fleet to optimize operational efficiency and reducing unnecessary fuel use and emissions is also noteworthy. In fact, telematics can provide real-time data on equipment usage, maintenance needs and energy consumption,” he says. “Another important point according to Fernandez concern data analytics and predictive maintenance, given that leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology enables ground handling operations to anticipate maintenance issues, optimize equipment use, and reduce downtime. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to sustainability by minimizing resource consumption and prolonging the life cycle of equipment. These innovations reflect our commitment to leading the change towards more sustainable ground handling operations in Central and South America. By adopting these practices, we aim to align with our global sustainability goals and set a benchmark for the industry in the region.”
Tomeu Mas, senior vice president for Central and South America at Menzies Aviation, also believes that making operations more sustainable and embracing innovation go hand-in-hand.
“This is why we are using a range of tools and technologies in this space. One example is our use of predictive maintenance. By harnessing EBIS's aviation maintenance software, we can optimize GSE usage and maintenance schedules, reducing downtime and energy consumption,” he says. “Meanwhile, planning and real-time allocation tools allow us to accurately simulate airport ground operations, improving planning and resource allocation, reducing unnecessary equipment use and minimizing environmental impact. The use of telematics enables the real-time monitoring of GSE and other ground handling equipment, optimizing operations and reducing energy use.”
Airports such as Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru, are set to use Internet of Things (IoT)-connected GSE fleets, meaning that each piece of equipment communicates its status and location in real time, enabling better coordination and reducing idle times, points out Mas.
“LIM will introduce this technology with the opening of the new terminal in December this year,” he concludes.
