How is Ground Power Equipment Maintained?

rbl2500 Lithium Ground Power Unit Ground Power Equipment (GPE) plays a vital role in providing power to aircraft while on the ground. However, careful maintenance must be carried out to ensure reliability and safety.

The maintenance process typically involves several key steps:

Routine Inspections: Regular inspections identify any wear and tear or potential issues. These inspections are likely to include visual checks, operational tests, and measurements of electrical parameters and follow a checklist that focuses on each type of equipment.
Preventive Maintenance: This includes tasks performed on a regular schedule to prevent breakdowns, such as cleaning, lubricating moving parts, checking and tightening connections, and replacing worn or outdated components.
Corrective Maintenance: Corrective maintenance is undertaken when a problem is identified through routine inspection or operational failure. This involves diagnosing the issue, repairing or replacing faulty components, and testing the equipment to ensure it functions correctly.
Software Updates: For GPE with digital controls or monitoring systems, software updates may be necessary to improve functionality, add new features, or address security concerns.
Calibration: Equipment that measures or regulates electrical parameters may need to be calibrated regularly to ensure accuracy.
Safety Compliance: Maintenance activities must comply with relevant safety standards and regulations. This includes ensuring that all safety features are operational and that hazardous materials are handled and disposed of properly.
Record Keeping: Detailed records of all maintenance activities should be kept. These records are essential for tracking the equipment’s maintenance history, planning future maintenance activities, and complying with regulatory requirements.
Training: Technicians who perform maintenance on GPE must typically undergo specialised training. This training ensures that they know the specific types of equipment they will be working on and the relevant safety procedures.
Replacement Planning: Part of maintenance includes assessing the lifespan of the equipment and planning for its eventual replacement. This involves budgeting and scheduling to ensure no interruption in service.
Environmental Considerations: Maintenance activities also consider environmental factors, such as operating in extreme weather conditions, and how these might affect the GPE.

In short, it is essential that ground power equipment is regularly maintained for the efficient operation of airports and aircraft, and for the safety of the personnel who operate and maintain the aircraft.

Red Box Aviation has been manufacturing GPE since 1993, and the majority of our products are NATO codified. Our extensive range of international distributors are able to offer our overseas customer local support and after sales care across all ground support equipment and solutions.