The Ground Handling Blog

Aircraft hangars are as ubiquitous to the aviation community as airplanes and aircraft themselves; if there are aircraft, it is reasonable to expect a hangar is close by. It is assumed a package deal, and for good reason: what would justify the expense of an aircraft without assuring its most fundamental protection from the elements? But housing is far from the sole purpose of a good aircraft hangar; maintenance hangars are a vital piece of the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) chain of events.

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Trade shows like aviation expos are the lifeblood of the MRO and aerospace industry (along with just about any other industrial arena). There just is not any better way to convey this truth than to just say it. There are just no better ways and means of getting the word out to the aerospace community, and particularly in showcasing the capabilities of the equipment. These trade shows are also where emerging technology is first debuted. Aeronautical and aviation trade shows are much more prevalent than might be thought, with dozens routinely scheduled over the globe. Here are the top ten that you will not want to miss in 2018.

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Unlike many pieces of machinery, most notably automobiles, airplanes and aircraft are an investment which generally appreciates over time. Aircraft are also subjected to some of the most harsh and unforgiving environments on earth, from baking in the summer sun to flying thousands of meters in the freezing atmosphere, often times within just minutes of each other. These machines are engineered to endure such extremes and do so very well; what they are not designed to endure are the dents and dings which are commonplace to ground movement, or “hangar rash”.

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The world of aircraft tugs has changed very little over the past several decades, with tugs remaining essentially unphased by advances in technology. Gasoline engines have largely given way to diesel power, but beyond that aircraft tugs are virtually unchanged since the mid-20th century.

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Aircraft hangar insurance is not a topic that usually clogs up web browser tabs, or climbs the ranks of Google search metrics. In light of recent natural disasters like hurricane Harvey and Irma, aircraft owners and operators should be cognizant to bring this back to the forefront of their minds.

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Purchasing ground support equipment (GSE) for your airport operation is a big financial decision; GSE are high-cost assets to acquire, to maintain, and to operate. However, the cost of entry into GSE is dwarfed by the value of the aircraft which they support. In the sense of context and scale, the importance of purchasing quality GSE is obvious; aircraft are sensitive pieces of equipment with very precise and exacting tolerances.

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It is very quickly becoming clear to anyone following the tech market trends that autonomous and automated guided vehicles are exploding with exponential growth. Particular to the aviation industry is the Unmanned Aerospace Vehicle (“drone”) market which has absolutely taken the world by storm, far aside the aerospace industry alone.

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Airplane and helicopter hangars shoulder a tremendous burden; they protect some of the most delicate, sensitive, and valuable machines that any person or company may own. Accordingly, the process of deciding on a particular hangar design and manufacturer is a serious decision which should not be taken lightly. There are a number of questions which need to be answered in order to ensure that the correct design is selected such as size, materials, environmental factors, and even permanency. It is up to each individual operator to determine their specific needs, but here are the 10 aircraft hangar manufacturers that you should know about and consider for future expansion.

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