Handling apparatus adapted to move drilling elements (P) from a ground level (G) to a drill floor (F) 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 (F); - a carrier , which is adapted to hold a drilling element (P), 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 (G); and a second position, in which the carrier is lifted at the level of the drill floor (F); 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 (F); - a carrier , which is adapted to hold a drilling element (P), 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 . <EOS>