Handling apparatus adapted to move drilling elements from a ground level to a drill floor of a drilling rig, and vice versa; said handling apparatus comprising: - a main support structure comprising a first end and a second end; - an extendable ramp between the first end of said main support structure and the drill floor; - a carrier, which is adapted to hold a drilling element, is movable relative to the main support structure to which it is associated, and comprising, in turn: a first end close to the ramp and a second end distant from said ramp; - a lift arm, which is adapted to lift and position the carrier and comprising, in turn: a first end and a second end; said carrier is configured so that it moves between: a first position, in which the carrier is arranged above the main support structure, close to the ground level; and a second position, in which the carrier is lifted at the level of the drill floor; said lift arm being operatively arranged under the carrier, so as to move and support the second end of the carrier in its movement from and to the second position; • said lift arm is pivotally connected: ∘ at the first end, in the area of the second end of the carrier; ∘ at the second end, close to the first end of the support structure, in a hyperstatic manner; • said lift arm being extendable and comprising a first portion or fixed portion and a second portion or movable portion, which is movable relative to said first portion; • said lift arm comprising an actuator device, which is adapted to cause said lift arm to rotate around the axis relative to which said second end of the arm is pivotally connected to the main support structure; • the first end of the carrier being adapted to slide along said ramp; characterized in that: said movable portion being moved by means of a hydraulic piston; said actuator device comprising a pair of hydraulic pistons; said actuator device, at a first end, is fixed to said main support structure and, at a second end, is fixed to said fixed portion of the lift arm. - a main support structure comprising a first end and a second end; - an extendable ramp between the first end of said main support structure and the drill floor; - a carrier, which is adapted to hold a drilling element, is movable relative to the main support structure to which it is associated, and comprising, in turn: a first end close to the ramp and a second end distant from said ramp; - a lift arm, which is adapted to lift and position the carrier and comprising, in turn: a first end and a second end; • said lift arm is pivotally connected: ∘ at the first end, in the area of the second end of the carrier; ∘ at the second end, close to the first end of the support structure, in a hyperstatic manner; ∘ at the first end, in the area of the second end of the carrier; ∘ at the second end, close to the first end of the support structure, in a hyperstatic manner; • said lift arm being extendable and comprising a first portion or fixed portion and a second portion or movable portion, which is movable relative to said first portion; • said lift arm comprising an actuator device, which is adapted to cause said lift arm to rotate around the axis relative to which said second end of the arm is pivotally connected to the main support structure; • the first end of the carrier being adapted to slide along said ramp; said movable portion being moved by means of a hydraulic piston; said actuator device comprising a pair of hydraulic pistons; said actuator device, at a first end, is fixed to said main support structure and, at a second end, is fixed to said fixed portion of the lift arm.