Aircraft, what do ground handling agents do?

Cassidy Pangrazio: It's basically the **** job of the aviation industry.Sorry to put it so bluntly.

Leisa Brodnex: Ground Handling Agent

Forest Duttinger: Ground handling might include terminal services (above the wing) as well as ramp services (below the wing).Above the wing can include any of the following: passenger ticketing/check-in/boarding, skycap, security, distressed pax assistance, involuntary reroutes, mishandled bag delivery, wheelchair assistance, etc.Below the wing can include any of these: aircraft cleaning, catering, lav service, bag handling, refueling/defueling, marshalling, pushback, boarding stairs, deicing, ground power, ground air, air start, line maintenance, aircraft parking, etc....Show more

Maye Delk: handling agents are all staff which are on the ramp including refueling, catering, baggage handliers, cleaning servies, de-iceing (winter or ice) etc. with all these staff it help the turnaround be successful so the airline isnt ! fined

Venetta Coulbourne: You are partially right. They refuel the aircraft, but they also do so much more.A full turnaround on an aircraft usually consists of checking the entire aircraft over for missing screws, cracks and general wear and tear. The tyres, the oxygen systems, the cockpit lights and gauges, the control surfaces (moving parts), all antennas, the engines (every compression blade is inspected), the undercarriage and the emergency systems are all checked.The fuel is replenished, the oxygen supply (if the aircraft carries its own supply) is replenished, the oil levels and compressed gas levels (for hydraulics) are checked and topped up, the engine oil is topped up and the cockpit switches are put into the safe (off) positions.There are many other checks, depending on aircraft type, size and complexity.The servicing can take from 30 mins to over an hour depending on how many people help, the size, type and complexity of the airframe....Show more

Myes! ha Zerbe: The chance of a squib blowing from heat is pretty mu! ch non-existent, unless the squib is tossed into a fire. It takes quite a bit of amperage to set one off. It is USUALLY done by the manual actuation of a button or switch.