page_title: Aircraft ground handling
section_title: Ramp service
hierarchical_section_title: Aircraft ground handling / Overview / Ramp service
caption_attribution_description: English: &#160; Aircraft: Boeing 757-251 Airline: Northwest Airlines Registration/CN: N538US / 5638 (cn 26485/699) Place: Amsterdam - Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)
context_page_description: In aviation, aircraft ground handling defines the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground and parked at a terminal gate of an airport.
context_section_description: This includes services on the ramp or apron, such as:
  Guiding the aircraft into and out of the parking position (by way of aircraft marshalling),
  Towing with pushback tractors
  Lavatory drainage
  Water cartage (typically non-potable for lavatory sink use)
  Air conditioning (more common for smaller aircraft)
  Airstart units (for starting engines)
  Luggage handling, usually by means of beltloaders and baggage carts
  Gate checked luggage, often handled on the tarmac as passengers disembark
  Air cargo handling, usually by means of cargo dollies and cargo loaders
  Catering trucks
  Refueling, which may be done with a refueling tanker truck or refueling pumper
  Ground power (so that engines need not be running to provide aircraft power on the ground)
  Passenger stairs (used instead of an aerobridge or airstairs, some budget airlines use both to improve turnaround speed)
  Wheelchair lifts, if required
  Hydraulic mules  (units that provide hydraulic power to an aircraft externally)
  Deicing
caption: Luggage being unloaded from a Northwest Airlines Boeing 757-200 at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
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