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Directory · Fuel & Line Operations

Ground Support Equipment

Tugs and towbars, 28 V ground power and start units, nitrogen, lav and water carts — the equipment that moves, powers and services aircraft on an FBO ramp, plus where to rent or buy used.

25 listedFuel & Line Operations

An FBO ramp needs equipment for three jobs: moving aircraft, powering them, and servicing them. Moving means tugs — towbar tractors that need the right towbar for each type, or towbarless tugs that cradle the nosewheel and handle a range of aircraft with one machine — plus towbars, chocks and jacks. Powering means 28 V DC ground power and start units for business jets and turboprops, and 400 Hz units for larger aircraft. Servicing means nitrogen and oxygen carts and lav and water carts. This category lists makers and specialist dealers sized for FBO and business-aviation ramps; airline-hub equipment is left out, and deicers and ramp heaters have their own category.

For tugs, LEKTRO (Warrenton, Oregon, an Oshkosh AeroTech brand) builds all-electric towbarless tractors and calls its 88i designed for FBO operations; Mototok and TowFLEXX build battery-powered towbarless tugs in Germany, TowFLEXX with a US subsidiary in Delaware; Best Tugs (Utah) and Airtug (Ohio) cover pistons through mid-size turbines, and Airtug publishes a price for every model; Aero-Pac (Belgium) makes a full line from tugs to service carts; Tronair, which also owns Eagle Tugs, sits in this category too. For power, START PAC and Powervamp build battery start units and DC ramp carts, ITW GSE's 7400 JetEx battery eGPU names the Citation, G250 and Falcon, and Unitron's FoxCart covers 28 V DC for business aircraft. Alberth Aviation builds US-made nitrogen, oxygen, lav and water carts for business jets and sells to FBOs.

Smaller handling gear comes from Derringer Aerospace (tug-type towbars for FBOs) and Bogert Aviation (piston-GA towbars and jacks), both with prices online. To rent, lease or buy used, Mercury GSE runs an FBO equipment program, Proserv Aviation distributes new and used GSE to business-aircraft operators, and AERO Specialties and Pilot John International stock the line-service consumables. Every fact on this page comes from the maker's own site on the date shown on its listing.

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Questions about ground support equipment

Towbar or towbarless tug: which suits an FBO?
A towbarless tug cradles the nosewheel, so one machine can move every type in its weight range without a towbar head for each aircraft; LEKTRO, Mototok and TowFLEXX build towbarless tugs, with ranges from about 2 t (TowFLEXX TF1) to 90 t (TF6) and beyond. A towbar tractor costs less and is simpler, but the FBO needs the right towbar for each type it handles — Derringer Aerospace and Bogert Aviation sell towbars, and Airtug and Best Tugs build smaller tugs for pistons through mid-size turbines. Check each maker's stated weight rating against the heaviest aircraft you park.
Electric or engine-powered tugs?
Most of the FBO-sized tugs listed here are battery-electric: LEKTRO, Mototok, TowFLEXX and Best Tugs build only electric units, and Airtug offers both gas and electric models. Electric tugs produce no exhaust, which matters for towing inside a hangar. Ask each maker for battery type, run time and charging requirements.
What ground power does a business jet need?
Many business jets, turboprops and helicopters take 28 V DC ground power for starting and servicing, and larger aircraft use 115 V 400 Hz AC; check the aircraft flight manual for amperage. ITW GSE's 7400 JetEx battery eGPU (600 A continuous, 2,000 A start) lists the Citation, Beechjet, Gulfstream G250 and Falcon; Unitron's FoxCart covers 28 V DC for business aircraft and helicopters; START PAC builds battery GPUs from 50 A to 400 A plus start units; Powervamp builds DC ramp carts and start units; Aero-Pac offers both 28 V and 400 Hz.
What does an aircraft tug cost?
Only the smaller makers publish prices. Airtug lists every model, from $3,990 to $6,990, for aircraft up to 16,000 lbs. Derringer Aerospace lists its FBO tug-type towbars from $599.95, and Bogert Aviation lists towbars at $654 and jacks from $525 to $1,538. Towbarless tugs for business jets (LEKTRO, Mototok, TowFLEXX, Best Tugs) are sold by quote.
Where can an FBO rent, lease or buy used GSE?
Mercury GSE rents equipment short term, offers 24- to 84-month leases and sells new and refurbished units, with an FBO page covering tugs, 28 V GPUs and air start units. Proserv Aviation distributes new and used GSE to private and business-aircraft operators. Several makers also sell through dealers: START PAC names US dealers, and Powervamp's portable DC products are distributed in North America by AERO Specialties.
Who makes nitrogen, oxygen and lav carts for business jets?
Alberth Aviation (Magnolia, Texas) builds US-made nitrogen and oxygen carts and boosters, wheel dollies, jacks and water and lav carts for business aircraft and sells to corporate flight departments and FBOs. Tronair, AERO Specialties and Aero-Pac also make service carts.
Do the European tug makers support US customers?
TowFLEXX has its own US company, TowFLEXX Inc. in New Castle, Delaware, which handles sales, service and stock for the Americas. Powervamp's portable DC products are distributed in the US, Canada and Mexico by AERO Specialties. Mototok and Aero-Pac do not name a US subsidiary or dealer on their sites, so ask about parts and service before buying.

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