Pipe-handling apparatus for moving a pipe to and from a drilling floor of a drilling rig, the pipe-handling apparatus comprising: a main support structure, a ramp having an upper end and being extendable between the main support structure and the drilling floor, a fixed-length pipe carrier mounted on the main support structure for moving relative thereto between a lower position and an elevated position over the ramp, the carrier including a ramp end adjacent the ramp, a far end, and an elongate indentation on its upper surface to accommodate a pipe therein, a lift arm including a first end and a second end, the lift arm being pivotally connected at its first end adjacent the far end of the carrier and operable below the carrier to lift and support the carrier in the elevated position, a track on the main support structure for supporting axial sliding motion of the carrier and the lift arm therealong, the track including a stop for limiting axial movement of the second end of the lift arm along the track toward the ramp, and a drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25, and 29) for pulling the carrier from the lower position to ride along the ramp to the elevated position, the drive system adapted to pull the lift arm along the track until it is stopped against the stop in the track and to continue pulling to cause the lift arm to be pivoted up about the stop to lift the carrier into the elevated position, characterized in that: the drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25, 29) includes a cable-drive which includes a winch and a cable connected between the carrier and the winch, the cable arranged to pull the carrier up along the ramp; the ramp is configured to accept and support the ramp end of the carrier as the ramp end of the carrier moves over the ramp; and the ramp includes a bearing surface on its upper end capable of supporting movement of the carrier thereover; and the pipe carrier and the drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25 and 29) are selected to permit the pipe carrier to ride up and extend past the end of the ramp over the drilling floor such that the ramp end of the fixed-length pipe carrier is extended past the upper end of the ramp and over the drilling floor when in the elevated position. a main support structure, a ramp having an upper end and being extendable between the main support structure and the drilling floor, a fixed-length pipe carrier mounted on the main support structure for moving relative thereto between a lower position and an elevated position over the ramp, the carrier including a ramp end adjacent the ramp, a far end, and an elongate indentation on its upper surface to accommodate a pipe therein, a lift arm including a first end and a second end, the lift arm being pivotally connected at its first end adjacent the far end of the carrier and operable below the carrier to lift and support the carrier in the elevated position, a track on the main support structure for supporting axial sliding motion of the carrier and the lift arm therealong, the track including a stop for limiting axial movement of the second end of the lift arm along the track toward the ramp, and a drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25, and 29) for pulling the carrier from the lower position to ride along the ramp to the elevated position, the drive system adapted to pull the lift arm along the track until it is stopped against the stop in the track and to continue pulling to cause the lift arm to be pivoted up about the stop to lift the carrier into the elevated position, characterized in that: the drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25, 29) includes a cable-drive which includes a winch and a cable connected between the carrier and the winch, the cable arranged to pull the carrier up along the ramp; the ramp is configured to accept and support the ramp end of the carrier as the ramp end of the carrier moves over the ramp; and the ramp includes a bearing surface on its upper end capable of supporting movement of the carrier thereover; and the pipe carrier and the drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25 and 29) are selected to permit the pipe carrier to ride up and extend past the end of the ramp over the drilling floor such that the ramp end of the fixed-length pipe carrier is extended past the upper end of the ramp and over the drilling floor when in the elevated position. the drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25, 29) includes a cable-drive which includes a winch and a cable connected between the carrier and the winch, the cable arranged to pull the carrier up along the ramp; the ramp is configured to accept and support the ramp end of the carrier as the ramp end of the carrier moves over the ramp; and the ramp includes a bearing surface on its upper end capable of supporting movement of the carrier thereover; and the pipe carrier and the drive system (24, 24a, 24b, 25 and 29) are selected to permit the pipe carrier to ride up and extend past the end of the ramp over the drilling floor such that the ramp end of the fixed-length pipe carrier is extended past the upper end of the ramp and over the drilling floor when in the elevated position.