Company insight
Electric GSE cuts costs and emissions
A young German company demonstrates how digital technology and smart solutions are able to not only improve the efficiency of aircraft preparation on the apron, but also make it more eco- friendly and sustainable. HiSERV hires out high-quality GSE, provides fleet management support, and ensures reliable maintenance and greater safety. In doing so, the company is always focused on the needs of its customers.
he bustling activities unfolding on an apron almost seem like a ballet. Looking from the control tower, you may even get the impression that everything is a painstakingly choreographed dance. The processes at play on the apron are similarly complex. Under a tight time constraint, aircraft need to be unloaded and supplied with air, water and energy; waste needs to be disposed of; fresh supplies, baggage and cargo need to be loaded. The crucial thing is to get an aircraft ready for its next take- off – in time and, of course, without causing any damage. There is also a growing demand for aircraft preparation to be sustainable. This means keeping exhaust emissions as low as possible for the health of those working on the apron and for the well-being of our planet.
T
Sustainable aircraft preparation A relatively small but non-negligible portion of aviation’s climate impact is generated on the apron. With offices in Frankfurt, Berlin,
Oslo and Vienna, the young German company HiSERV has set out to make aircraft preparation on the apron environmentally friendly. To the company’s managing director, Roland Ückert, this involves more than just reducing emissions. “Our electric GSE units are eco-friendly because they don’t release any harmful emissions on the apron. Furthermore, they are also significantly more efficient than conventional GSE with combustion engines,” he says.
Less complex systems, fewer wear parts, longer maintenance cycles and more reliable technology are other compelling advantages listed by Ückert. “The argument of limited range is not an issue at an airport. A modern battery is easily able to last the 25km covered by a vehicle during a shift on the apron. Meanwhile, electric GSE vehicles are able to offer at least the same level of performance as their diesel-powered counterparts,” adds Wolfgang Fasching, head of HiSERV Branch Office at Vienna Airport.
Electric vehicles are not affected by idle fuel consumption, which is a notable problem with conventional GSE. “Ground handling companies all over the world are currently assessing and rethinking their operations so as to combine economic and environmental considerations,” says Ückert. Overall, the sometimes markedly higher acquisition costs are more than compensated for by the significantly lower maintenance costs.
Electric solutions
It is not yet possible to achieve zero emissions for the entire process of servicing an aircraft on the apron. In particular, there are still not enough battery-powered options when it comes to highly complex special equipment. Nevertheless, electric apron buses have already become a common sight. HiSERV’s fleet now also features electric variants of belt loaders, high-performance pushback tractors, passenger stairs and air conditioning units for aircraft. “We provide state-of-the-art GSE units at a fair price and win over our customers with attractive hire offers tailored to their needs,” says Ückert. In Scandinavia, for example, HiSERV has been providing their customers exclusively with electric GSE units. “Everything has been going without a hitch,” he adds. If anything, he sees the inadequate charging infrastructure at airports, rather than the vehicles themselves, as barriers to electric GSE adoption. “Airports have to take action if they don’t have enough charging stations, if their wiring doesn’t have the required performance, or if there is simply too little power available,” says Fasching. “Our main focus is always on our customers’ needs.” ●
HiSERV’s state-of-the-art eGSE units at Oslo Airport. 26
www.hiserv.aero Future Airport /
www.futureairport.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41
