The 2018 International Airport GSE Expo came and went quickly, but it was a fantastic experience. After coming aboard as editor of Ground Support Worldwide just before the 2016 Expo, it was a lot of fun to see the recent event come to fruition from the very beginning of the planning process all the way to the show’s successful conclusion earlier this month.
Once the 2018 GSE Expo got underway, I was captivated by the equipment on display. The common theme I found while visiting with exhibitors was the industry’s desire to remove human error from ground operations.
Automated technologies have been applied to ground support equipment for some time now. But the desire does not appear to be removing people from ground operations. Rather, the idea behind much of this technology is to prevent people from making mistakes.
To err is human. So putting systems in place that prevent errors is logical, especially in an industry where safety is of the utmost importance. It is reassuring to see the best minds in ground support working toward this common goal from multiple angles.
Of course, efficient ground handling is vital to turn aircraft around quickly and ensure on-time departures. It only makes sense that the ground support equipment used in these turnarounds work efficiently too. With fewer human errors, ground handlers can be more proficient.
The technological advancements that have taken place between the 2016 and 2018 editions of the GSE Expo are astounding. And if GSE continues to develop at this rate, the 2020 show is poised to be a can’t miss event.
Even though the next GSE Expo is two years away, I’m definitely looking forward to it, and I hope you are anticipating it too.
