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Textron GSE launches Premier TT4000 tanker truck

Textron GSE TT4000 resizedTextron GSE has introduced the Premier TT4000 tanker truck, which allows ground handlers to refill active de-icers on the ramp.

The TT4000 has 4,000 gallons of capacity, allowing it to refill up to three de-icers in a single trip from its twin linked 1,500 gallon tanks for de-icing fluid and 1,000 gallon tank for anti-ice fluid.

The tanks are built from 12-gauge A304 stainless steel engineered specifically for glycol use.

Its pumping system is designed to rapidly refill de-icers and can refill a de-icer in as little as 10 minutes.

The hydraulically driven, centrifugal-style Gorman Rupp de-icing fluid pump moves up 200 gallons per minute at 25 PSI.

The tanker truck’s anti-ice fluid pump is a self-priming diaphragm pump with positive displacement that transfers fluid at 75 gallons per minute.

The unit features separate 25-foot hoses for both de-icing and anti-icing operations, mounted to reels with a 12-volt retraction system for safe and convenient hose management.

The tanker truck is built on a Freightliner M2 106 commercial-truck chassis and powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder Cummins L9 diesel engine.

The top speed is limited to 30 mph for ramp safety.

Morgan Gresens, Vice President and General Manager of Textron GSE said: “The TT4000 provides Textron GSE customers with a safe, reliable and efficient means to boost ramp productivity, minimise de-icer downtime and ultimately get passengers and cargo in the air on schedule.”

Mallaghan raises $24,000 at charity golf tournament

Mallaghan hosts 3rd Annual Shamrock Golf Tournament resizedMallaghan has raised $24,000 for charity at its 3rd Annual Shamrock Classic Golf Tournament.

The event brought together clients, employees and friends with all funds raised being donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, BYRD House, Frayed Edges Foundation and Hunter Scarborough Foundation.

It was supported by key sponsors from Delta Air Lines, Water Truck and Tractor, and Averest.

The Annual Shamrock Classic Golf Tournament was established in 2022 to commemorate Shane MacMahon, a valued Mallaghan colleague who lost his life to suicide.

Niall Mallaghan, Director of Mallaghan said: “What began as a way to honour the memory of our dear friend and colleague Shane MacMahon has evolved into a powerful platform for raising awareness and funding for mental health and suicide prevention.”

He added: “At Mallaghan, we are committed to championing mental health awareness and proud to play a part in driving meaningful change within our community. We have no doubt that this donation will go a long way towards helping our nominated charities continue the important work that they do.”

Joe Griffith, Chief Commercial Officer of Mallaghan added: “We often talk about building long-term relationships with our clients and our people, and this event is a real expression of that value in action. I would like to thank our sponsors and all members of the Mallaghan team who worked together to make our 3rd Annual Shamrock Classic Golf Tournament such a success.”

Speaking on behalf of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Chelsea Piatt, Area Director AFSP Georgia Chapter said: “We are truly grateful for Mallaghan’s continued commitment to mental health and suicide prevention. The support that it offers helps us save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.”

The 4th Annual Shamrock Classic Golf Tournament is set to take place on Friday 17 October at the White Oak Golf Club.

El Dorado improves turnarounds with SITA A-CDM

El Dorado implements SITA ACDM resizedEl Dorado International Airport has implemented an Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) system from SITA to make aircraft turnaround times more predictable.

Airport operator OPAIN is working with SITA to implement the system, which will improve real-time data sharing among airlines, ground handlers and air traffic control by increasing coordination for more efficient use of ground resources and runway slots.

This will reduce delays, cut fuel consumption and improve on-time performance.

El Dorado airport in Bogota is the first airport in Latin America to implement A-CDM and comes after years of strong growth.

Natali Leal, CEO of OPAIN said: “This rapid expansion brings challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and punctuality. Implementing the A-CDM system allows us to address these challenges head-on by having better coordination among all stakeholders. This collaborative approach is essential for strengthening the passenger experience and making sure our growth is sustainable.”

The implementation in Bogota integrates SITA’s Collaborative Decision-Making tools including the Pre-Departure Sequencer, Airport Management System and Operations Manager for streamlined and efficient operations.

Shawn Gregor, President of SITA Americas says air traffic growth in Latin America means there is a need for solutions to increase efficiency and resilience.

He said: “Technologies like A-CDM are key in meeting these demands, allowing airports to optimize operations, reduce environmental impact, and improve the overall travel experience. Supporting El Dorado in setting a new standard for airport management is a big step for both the airport and the region as a whole.”

At European airports, A-CDM has delivered estimated annual fuel savings of 360,000kg of fuel, reduced delays by 2,000 minutes per year and cut taxiing times by 26,300 minutes.

It has improved the ability to forecast operating conditions, reduced air traffic flow management slot waste and enhanced pre-takeoff planning.

EUROCONTROL data says A-CDM has improved take-off time accuracy, cutting the average gap between planned and actual departure from 14 minutes to 5-7 minutes.

Joseph Davis leads customer experience at Mercury GSE

Joe Davis VP Customer Experience and Bob Travis President of Mercury GSE resizedMercury GSE has appointed Joseph Davis to the newly-created position of Vice President of Customer Experience.

In this new role, Davis will be responsible for leading customer-centric initiatives designed to enhance Mercury GSE’s service model, drive account growth and further elevate customer experience.

This will include deepening relationships with passenger and cargo airlines, MRO providers and ground handling operators.

Bob Travis, President of Mercury GSE said: “At Mercury GSE, our customers come first—and the relationship we have with each client is what drives our success. With Joe’s experience and vision, we’re taking a big step forward in ensuring that every interaction with Mercury reflects the best our industry has to offer.”

Davis joins from Oshkosh AeroTech where he most recently served as Senior Sales Account Manager.

Commenting on his new role, Davis said: “As the industry evolves, Mercury’s commitment to preventative maintenance, 24/7 support, and tailored leasing solutions makes this an exciting time to drive customer growth and retention.”

Talma opens GSE maintenance centre in Bogota

IMG_CET TALMA BOGOTÁ 1 resizedTalma has opened the Talma Specialized Center (CET) to provide GSE maintenance services at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport.

The airport services company has invested $4 million in the centre, which covers 7,400m2 and provides maintenance services for equipment including pushbacks, GPUs, ASUs, ramp buses, conveyor belts and passenger stairs.

It has technical areas for servicing, diagnosis and maintenance of equipment with energy backup systems and pneumatic technology to ensure operational continuity.

There are also administrative areas for collaborative work, training and employee welfare.

Gonzalo Aristizabal, General Manager of Talma Colombia, said: “This infrastructure allows us to increase Talma Colombia’s technical and operational capacity, strengthen the reliability of our services and respond more efficiently to the demands of the airport sector. With the CET, we reaffirm our commitment to leading our sector’s transformation in the country and actively contributing to the logistics development of the region.”

Edmonton to test hydrogen duel-fuel in snow sweepers

Edmonton Airport hydrogen dual fuel snow sweeper resizedEdmonton International Airport and Diesel Tech Industries (DTI) will explore the integration of the Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System into two of the airport’s heavy-duty runway snow sweepers.

Edmonton will be the first Canadian airport to explore adopting DTI’s hydrogen and diesel technology into runway snow sweepers.

Funding is being provided by Alberta Innovates to reduce the airport’s carbon emissions from ground operations, advance hydrogen adoption and support global aviation in becoming more sustainable.

The runway snow sweepers will be retrofitted with the Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System, which gives Tier 3 diesel engines the option to use hydrogen as a supplementary fuel while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions without extensive infrastructure modifications.

The project will address the unique challenges of higher-emission Tier 3 engines including more demanding, high-load operational cycle and the complexity of the dual-engine configuration.

The conversions will begin this spring and take around one year to complete.

Peter Agnew, Vice President Infrastructure, Facilities & Airside at Edmonton International Airport, said: “Reducing emissions from airport ground fleets, especially runway snow sweepers that are designed to operate in demanding winter climates, is a crucial step toward sustainability. Hydrogen/diesel dual-fuel technology offers an innovative pathway to decarbonisation, and we are excited to continue to showcase the practical benefits of hydrogen at YEG.”

Rebecca Goldsack, COO of Diesel Tech Industries, added: “Airports are vital transportation hubs that operate internationally, making this project a significant demonstration of hydrogen’s potential in high-demand environments. The success of this initiative will showcase how hydrogen can transform off-road operations worldwide, proving that sustainability and efficiency can go hand in hand on or off-road.”

Air Canada to go fully electric in Quebec City

Air Canada to use eGSE in Quebec City resizedAir Canada will make Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport its first station to operate a 100% electric GSE fleet by the end of the year.

At the Quebec City (YQB) station, Air Canada will complete its transition away from fossil fuel-powered equipment to electric alternatives for baggage and ramp tractors, belt loaders, power stows, container loaders and aircraft tractors.

The announcement coincided with the start of Earth Month.

Switching to eGSE is a mid-term step towards the long-term goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Using 2019 as a baseline, Air Canada aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from air operations by 20% and 30% from ground operations by 2030.

Michael Rousseau, President and CEO of Air Canada, said: “The focus of Earth Month 2025 is renewable energy and with Quebec’s renewable hydroelectric power, it is fitting that the city of Quebec is our first fully electric capable station. This project demonstrates the successful collaboration between Air Canada and the YQB airport authority in developing the necessary charging infrastructure to support the transition to a zero direct emission eGSE fleet powered by Quebec’s renewable energy grid.”

Stephane Poirier, President and CEO of the airport, added: “This project was made possible thanks to close collaboration between our teams, and is perfectly in line with our commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of our operations, as well as to provide the support and tools necessary for our airline partners to achieve their GHG reduction objectives. We are proud that YQB is the first Air Canada station to take this important step towards environmental sustainability.”

Air Canada has been retiring older fossil fuel-powered GSE in favour of eGSE and it has over 900 pieces of eGSE equipment, representing 35% of its GSE fleet.

Some operations still require fossil fuel-powered GSE so Air Canada will work with manufacturers to evaluate new technologies, says the airline.

United breaks ground at Houston GSE facility

United Airlines Houston GSE facility resizedUnited Airlines has continued to invest in its Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport hub by breaking ground at a new GSE maintenance facility.

The $177 million GSE maintenance facility is scheduled to open in 2027, supporting a fleet of more than 1,800 vehicles and giving the team more resources to perform critical tasks including charging batteries, fabricating metal and monitoring electronic controls with improved infrastructure and modernised workspaces.

It will provide space for current and future needs with a 25% increase in repair space, a 60% increase in shop space, an 80% increase in storage capacity and a 50% increase in shared spaces.

The 140,000 square foot GSE facility is being designed to meet LEED Silver certification and will be twice the size of the current facility, which is 40 years old and was built when the airport only had 37% of its current gates.

United Airlines is also opening a $16 million Technical Operations Training Center to give employees the necessary training experience.

The 91,000 square foot Technical Operations Training Center will support the delivery of hundreds of aircraft by 2032 and includes sheet metal and composite training shops, desktop simulators and scenario-based engine maintenance and inspection training.

Phil Griffith, Vice President of Airport Operations at United Airlines, said: “With these new facilities, Ground Service Equipment Maintenance Facility and the Technical Operations Training Center, we are enhancing our ability to maintain a world-class fleet while empowering our employees with cutting-edge tools and training.”

The Training Center will house the $6.3 million Move Team Facility, which will centralise Super Tug operations.

United’s Houston Move Team manage over 15 Super Tugs across the airfield, which move hundreds of aircraft daily to support flight departures, remote parking areas and Technical Operations Hangars.

Investing in the Technical Operations Training Center and Move Team supports United’s growth under the United Next strategy.

Under United Next, United plans to introduce more than 500 new narrowbody aircraft into its fleet, increasing available seats per domestic departure by 30%.

Maria Deacon, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at United Airlines, said: “By opening our Tech Ops Training Center, we are setting a new industry standard for real world and specialised training opportunities for United technicians.”

Frontier Scientific constructs Wilmington airport life sciences hub

Frontier Scientific construction at Wilmington airport resizedConstruction of Frontier Scientific Solutions’ cGMP temperature-controlled facilities at Wilmington International Airport is underway with the installation of the first vertical structures.

The project is set to be the largest GMP temperature-controlled facility fully dedicated to the life sciences sector in North America, which will strengthen Wilmington’s position as a critical hub in the global life sciences supply chain.

The facility will enhance the efficiency and security of transporting time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products.

It will play a crucial role in establishing a direct global gateway for life sciences to connect North America and Europe.

Leandro Moreira, COO of Frontier Scientific Solutions, says, “It represents a significant leap forward in our mission to revolutionise the life sciences supply chain. By providing the largest GMP temperature-controlled space in North America, we are not only enhancing operational efficiencies but also ensuring that critical healthcare products reach patients in need without delay.”

Advanced features of the Wilmington facility will include streamlined customs processing through its Free Trade Zone designation, which offers duty deferral and operational efficiencies that are vital for life science products crossing international borders.

Jeff Bourk, CEO of Wilmington International Airport, says, “The construction of this facility marks a pivotal moment for the life sciences industry for ILM Airport and North Carolina. The commitment to developing cutting-edge infrastructure will empower companies to deliver essential healthcare products with unmatched speed and precision, ultimately saving lives.”

Aurrigo develops rain algorithm for Auto-DollyTug

Aurrigo Auto-DollyTug Rain Close Up resizedAurrigo International has developed software so its Auto-DollyTug can operate in heavy rain and snow conditions.

The newly-developed algorithm will help it detect the difference between drops of rain and objects whilst operating in up to 50mm of precipitation per hour.

Combined with new housing to better protect LiDAR sensors, the software means the Auto-DollyTug can move baggage and cargo around airports in intense conditions.

It has been tested in scheduled simulated rain and opportunistic heavy rain, both proved by observations and rain meter readings.

Simon Brewerton, Chief Technical Officer of Aurrigo International, said: “AVs using this technology rely on the reflection feedback of laser beams for localisation and object recognition and, in intense weather, the scattering and absorption of laser beams by raindrops can lead to distorted signals, compromising the vehicle’s ability to accurately perceive its surroundings.”

The two key features of the software are filtering the rain into five spatial zones around the vehicle with the strength of filtering varying on proximity.

The second feature adjusted the field height settings and ‘near field’ low profiles were added due to the differences in scan properties between unfiltered and filtered scans, which made it challenging to detect low-lying obstacles and reflective surfaces.

Sam Layton, Regional VP Singapore at Aurrigo International said that the Auto-DollyTug could operate autonomously with no ghost or intermittent stops, react to a box or person cross its path and safely navigate a T-junction with oncoming traffic.

Layton said: “All of this had to be achieved under 15mm of rainfall per the customer’s requirement, which we successfully passed. Since then, we have increased our capabilities and operated airside on live trials with rainfall of 50mm per hour. This is a real game-changing moment for autonomous vehicles and aviation.”

Manual operations must cease during a CAT5 lightning risk due to the electrocution risk to humans, which happens frequently in places like Singapore due to the rainforest climate and inclement weather.

The development creates the potential to build a fully autonomous turnaround for operations in the worst weather conditions.

Layton said: “Our enhancement, together with other advanced systems, mean flight schedules will be maintained whilst reducing risk of injury to airside workers, two key priorities for airlines, and airport and ground support operators.”

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