Recently, Tianyi GSE Technical Team Visits China Southern Airlines Base for Specialized Inspections and Product Retraining on All-Electric Ground Support Equipment
China Southern Airlines currently operates multiple Tianyi GSE main units in its active fleet, including high-capacity electric aviation catering trucks, electric catering vehicles, electric bulk cargo loaders, electric tow tractors, electric potable water trucks, and electric lavatory service trucks. These assets cover the full spectrum of apron operations, encompassing tarmac catering, freight loading and unloading, equipment towing, and apron cleaning and waste management.
As a leading domestic carrier with one of the largest transport fleets, China Southern Airlines operates a massive aircraft fleet with dense flight schedules and heavy ground support workloads. In recent years, the airline has introduced in large quantities Tianyi GSE's new-energy ground equipment matrix, which includes: high-capacity electric aviation catering vehicles, small electric catering vehicles, electric bulk cargo loaders, electric tractors, and electric cleaning and waste disposal vehicles. These cover core operational scenarios such as onboard meal transport, bulk cargo loading/unloading, apron towing, apron cleaning and disinfection, and waste removal, achieving electrification and green upgrading across multiple positions and the entire workflow.
This on-site service strictly followed civil aviation ground equipment maintenance standards, carrying out a meticulous "one-vehicle, one-inspection, item-by-item" inspection process. The technical team conducted targeted testing and adjustments based on the structural characteristics and operating conditions of different vehicle models.
For the large and small electric aviation catering vehicles, the focus was on inspecting the battery, motor, and electronic control systems (three-electric system), range performance, hydraulic lifting structures, insulation sealing of refrigerated compartments, aircraft-docking anti-collision safety systems, and charging and battery maintenance status, ensuring safe meal transport, stable temperature control, and precise docking.
For the electric bulk cargo loaders, the team comprehensively inspected load-bearing structures, lifting systems, travel brakes, and weight-carrying safety limiters, identifying potential risks under heavy-load operations to ensure efficient bulk cargo loading and unloading for flights.
Meanwhile, the team thoroughly verified the electric tractors' towing power, braking systems, steering systems, battery endurance, and nighttime warning devices, ensuring reliable apron traversal and fleet towing. For the electric cleaning and waste disposal vehicles, they conducted item-by-item checks on sealed compartments, suction systems, travel brakes, and anti-leakage structures, eliminating apron pollution and operational safety hazards while meeting civil aviation cleanliness standards.
The inspection also established complete equipment health records for all vehicles, with on-site adjustments, fastening, and parameter optimization for minor wear components, and advance warning records for parts requiring periodic replacement, achieving proactive hazard elimination before issues arise.
The equipment management department of China Southern Airlines stated that Tianyi GSE's routine inspection and periodic refresher training service model has effectively improved the serviceability and availability of the entire new-energy vehicle fleet, significantly reduced human-caused operational failures and equipment downtime risks, and provided solid support for peak-flight support and routine safe operations.
