Ground support equipment tracking, without the radio
“Where’s the tug?” “Who took the loader?” On most stations, questions like these take up a good share of the radio traffic during a bank. Ground support equipment is always moving, shared between flights, and its actual position is known only to whoever is driving it.
The apron map module makes ground support equipment tracking visible to everyone. On a plan of your apron, every unit and every cart appears at its position, coloured by the flight it is assigned to. The supervisor sees the station as it is, not as it is described over the radio.
An apron map laid out like your station
The map follows the areas that matter to your teams: baggage make-up, contact stands, remote stands, equipment parking. Units are shown by type — tugs, loaders, belt loaders, ground power, steps, carts and dollies — with their status: free, assigned, unavailable.
Filters show only the equipment for one flight, one type or one status. A search answers “where is that cart?” directly. Carts left waiting stand out without anyone having to walk the area.
Click on a unit
Click a unit to see the flight it serves, its assignment, its last known position and when that position was recorded. From the same card the supervisor can reassign it to another flight: the task goes to the driver through the ramp app.
Choosing between flights on facts
During a bank, equipment is the most contested resource. Two overlapping arrivals, a unit out of service, a remote stand further away than planned: conflicts often go to whoever calls first. With the map, the supervisor sees what is free, what is committed and what is on its way.
The map works hand in hand with turnaround control. When an alert concerns a flight’s equipment, the map shows the unit in question and what is available nearby. The system suggests, the supervisor decides.
The baggage team leader sees their carts
For the baggage team leader, the map answers one precise question: have all the carts for my flight left the make-up area? A cart forgotten in the baggage hall is one of the surest ways to hold up a hold closure. With the map, it shows up before the flight pays for it. The detailed bag count lives in the baggage and holds module.
Beyond the day itself
Every equipment movement is time-stamped. That helps explain a delay afterwards: was the loader on stand when the aircraft arrived? It feeds the chain of evidence used for delay codes.
Over time, the map also shows how the fleet is used: units often waited for, areas that saturate, time spent idle. Fleet sizing discussions can then rely on observations rather than impressions.
Common questions from the teams
How is equipment located? It depends on your station, your fleet and what is already in place. We discuss it in a first conversation.
Are drivers being tracked? The map follows equipment and its assignment to a flight, for operational purposes. Data protection principles are set out on the security and data page.
To go further, read our article on why and how to track ground support equipment, or see Turnpilot for ground handlers.