Job Title: President
Company: Powertrain Control Solutions (PCS)
Location: Ashland, VA
Years of Experience in Ground Support: 10 years
Years with Current Company: 19 years
Industry committees, associations, working groups served on:
SAE AGE-3 Liaison from 2016 to present.
Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the IATA GSEE Technical Group for the 2017-2019 term.
Ground Support Worldwide: What attracted you to a career in the ground support industry?
Dan Boucher: I have been an aviation enthusiast my entire life and always enjoyed being around aviation. After receiving my private pilot certificate, I thought aviation would just be a hobby. In 2012, PCS, which specializes in powertrain development, identified an opportunity to bring some of our powertrain technology to the industry. This was my first glimpse into ground support equipment at major airports for the large carriers. This was a perfect fit as it combined my passion for engineering and aviation.
GSW: What has kept you engaged in the industry?
DB: There are two components that have kept me engaged in the industry. The first is the amazing technology evolution that is happening in the transportation industry. This includes obviously battery electric vehicles, but also hydrogen-based systems and autonomous vehicles. This technology has the potential to make the ramp safer, more efficient and sustainable. The second component is the people of GSE. The greatest technology in the world doesn’t work in GSE if the operators don’t have the desire and dedication throughout their organization, from leaders to team members on the ramp, to be open to understanding the new technology and how it can help their operation. Some technology may be ready for a demo today, while other technology may still be five or 10 years out, but the passion by the GSE community to evaluate this technology keeps me excited about the future and engaged with this industry.
GSW: How have you seen the ground support industry change the most during your career?
DB: The entire world is changing right now as propulsion systems besides internal combustion are becoming more prevalent. There has been electric GSE for decades, but there were some pieces of equipment on the ramp that were better served with internal combustion from an engineering point of view, including battery or energy requirements. With all major automotive OEMs investing billions of dollars in battery and drive unit technology, I believe there are now commercially viable electric propulsion solutions for all GSE on the ramp.
GSW: Has this been to the benefit or detriment of the industry?
DB: Long term, this change to advanced powertrain technology is a benefit to the industry. Short term, this is going to require additional effort to transition to this new technology, including new diagnostic equipment, development of new maintenance procedures, compatible charging infrastructure and more.
GSW: What’s the next big thing coming to the ground support industry?
DB: I have two different answers depending on how you define “thing.” In terms of equipment and operation, the next big thing will be how autonomous ground support equipment can be worked into the airport environment. The technology has existed for years and there are numerous reports of airlines evaluating this equipment. The key with implementing any new technology is how to get measurable benefits, especially financial benefits. This reminds me a little bit of when telemetry entered the industry. Everyone wanted it and it provided some nice-to-have data points, but for the business case for the operators to make sense, it took a very specific, custom GSE-tailored approach. The engineering exists for autonomous vehicles on the ramp, but it’s how they are integrated into the operation that will determine the adoption rate. Right now, I think that is still being understood.
In terms of the next big thing coming to aviation that will require a major change to the landscape of the ground support industry, it will be the introduction of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs. With major airlines investing millions of dollars in stakes of eVTOL startups, the needs from the ground support side must evolve. The aircraft are very different and the supporting GSE will look different. Instead of a simple refueling truck, these aircraft will require significant energy delivered to the aircraft in a relatively short amount of time. With the difficulties faced today at the airport for charging infrastructure for relatively low energy electric GSE, it will be interesting to see how the ramp evolves.
GSW: What type of an impact will it make?
DB: Autonomous vehicles can help improve safety and efficiency of the ramp. eVTOLs can make transportation, at least short hops, more efficient. But both technologies rely on electric infrastructure at the airport. The biggest impact these will have in the ground support industry is the significant infrastructure need for more electric energy distribution on the ramp. I expect to see major infrastructure investments at the airport supplemented with creative ways to store and deliver energy.
GSW: What would you say to encourage someone to join the ground support industry?
DB: The ground support industry is an exciting industry that combines multiple disciplines of engineering with global travel and experiences. The people within the ground support community also make this industry a great place to work for an entire career. As I compare the ground support industry to other industries that I have worked in, one thing that always stands out is once someone enters the ground support industry, they often spend the rest of their career within the industry. This is a great sign that this industry provides numerous opportunities for professional growth over many years.
