Here’s What Happens When An Aircraft Is On The Ground

Airlines make money when their aircraft are flying, and they aim to have their aircraft in the air as much as possible for this reason. This requires an efficient and choreographed airport operation to minimize time spent on the ground. Every aircraft arriving and departing from an airport must complete the turnaround process.

Other than offloading passengers and cargo prior to loading with new passengers and cargo, there are many essential activities that must be completed whilst an aircraft is on the ground. It is cleaned, serviced, inspected, refueled, and resupplied. Each activity can be performed by different organizations and companies, but they must all complete their tasks within a specified period of time.

Short-haul versus long-haul

Whilst the process for turnarounds between short-haul and long-haul generally follows the same pattern, there are differences.

Short-haul flights may not always require refueling, as they may have enough fuel for the next flight, whilst long-haul flights will typically always be refueled. Short-haul aircraft may have been supplied with enough catering supplies to last multiple flights, whilst long-haul flights will generally require to be resupplied. Whilst the onboard toilets will be inspected and cleaned between flights, the waste may not always be removed on a short-haul flight, depending on how many trips the aircraft will complete that day and the capacity of the system.

Short-haul turnarounds are quicker than long-haul and can be as fast as 25 minutes with Ryanair and up to 35 minutes with Southwest Airlines. Long-haul flights generally require between 90 minutes to 2 hours for a turnaround.

Aircraft arrivals

Ground staff will prepare for an aircraft arrival whilst the aircraft is on approach to the airport. They will monitor live data on the actual arrival time and will know which gate the aircraft has been allocated to in advance. The ground crew will already be waiting for the aircraft to arrive. They will complete a visual inspection of the aircraft stand to ensure that there is no debris on the ground that would damage the aircraft.

They will also set up the docking system to assist the flight crew in parking the aircraft accurately on the stand. If there is no docking system available, then the marshaller will guide the flight crew.

The moment the flashing red warning lights on the aircraft are turned off, signaling it is safe to approach the aircraft, the ground crew activates a well-rehearsed sequence of activities. The wheels will be chocked, cones placed around sensitive areas of the aircraft and external power will be connected to the aircraft. If the aircraft is parked at a gate with a jet bridge, this will then be connected. Otherwise, stairs will be brought to the aircraft to enable passengers to disembark. Some airlines operate aircraft with retractable stairs, which can speed up the process.

The ground crew will then start to offload baggage and cargo whilst the cabin crew say goodbye to the arriving passengers. Cleaners will board the aircraft behind the passengers and prepare the cabin for the departure. The flight attendants complete a security inspection of the aircraft and the flight crew will conduct an external visual inspection of the aircraft to look for any signs of damage or problems with the aircraft.

If the aircraft is being refueled, this may begin soon after arrival, especially if it needs more than just a top-up.

There is a lot to consider on the ground. Photo: Getty Images

Aircraft departures

Prior to departure, the aircraft must be cleaned, inspected, and loaded up with new passengers, baggage, catering, fuel, and possibly cargo. Preparing for departure begins as soon as the aircraft arrives. Whilst passengers are disembarking from the left side of the aircraft the ground crew will already be working on the right side of the aircraft. The catering vehicle will load the aircraft with new supplies and refueling may already be in progress. Outbound baggage is often already waiting to be loaded and will begin as soon as the last inbound bag has been removed. Any cargo in the belly of the aircraft will be loaded as soon as the inbound cargo is offloaded.

When the crew have completed their checks and the cabin is ready for the next passengers, boarding will begin. Airlines have different methods of boarding passengers but all aim to get passengers onboard and seated as fast as possible.

Air Canada aircraft being serviced during a turnaround. Photo: Thomas Boon | Simple Flying

Cargo operations

Cargo flights go through many of the same processes as passenger flights during a turnaround. The same safety procedures as passenger flights are required, and they must also be inspected, serviced, and fueled. Cargo operators are also working under pressure to get the aircraft turned around as quickly as possible.

They must also factor in different types and sizes of cargo, as each flight will be different, so loading times may vary. Many perishable goods are transported by air, so there is added pressure to ensure that the turnaround can be completed to get goods to their destination on time.

The turnaround process for cargo-only flights differs from passenger flights but still requires the same safety features. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Working together to achieve a successful turnaround

An aircraft turnaround is a complex process in a time-pressured environment. Airlines want the process to be as fast as possible to get the aircraft back in the sky to make money and passengers want to depart and arrive on time to their destination. The turnaround is an impressive choreographed sequence of different processes by multiple agencies working on the same aircraft, all working against the same clock. The success of the turnaround is dependent on each task being completed as planned.

However, the success of an on-time departure can be influenced by other factors, including late passengers, air traffic control delays, weather and mechanical issues. Some of these are outside the control of the airline and ground crew, so they work hard to complete the turnaround tasks that they can directly influence on time.