Making the decision to purchase, rent or simply refurbish/rebuilding ground support equipment in any airport requires a good understanding of the pros and potential cons of any of the choices.
Through carefully comparing the benefits and the costs of the three options it is possible to determine which is the most effective choice that will also provide the best quality of ground support equipment for short and long-term use.
Age and Wear
When purchasing new equipment, regardless of the type, you will have the benefit of new parts and components throughout the equipment. This means that there will be years of use in the equipment, plus you have the advantage of the manufacturer’s warranty.
However, there is a high price for that additional support. New equipment is costly and, within a few years, there will be a more advanced or more technically designed model available. In addition, increasing demands for greener technology may mean having to refurbish or upgrade to meet new standards when ground support equipment is owned by the airport.
With a rental, there is no long-term commitment to the equipment, and the rental company assumes the responsibility for the condition of the equipment upon arrival, always ensuring you have the equipment you need in top working condition.
Rebuilding or refurbishing ground support equipment provides the option to keep equipment that may already be paid for while upgrading to all new parts. Older equipment can also be brought up to required air quality standards, which makes a cost-effective option to consider.
New Features
Of the three options for selecting how to address ground support equipment needs, only two offer the option to consider new and different features. These are the rental and purchase options, and rebuilding won’t add to the actual design of the unit.
The benefits to the rental of equipment are that the crews can try out different models and features in the actual conditions they will be used in. This is particularly important when choosing a new model or piece of equipment where there may not be a clear understanding of the size, options, and design elements that need to be in place for your airport facility.
With the purchase option for ground support equipment you can compare options through the dealer, but you aren’t going to have a month or two to work with the equipment to see if it does all you need it to. For many airports, even when they have the budget to buy, rental still offers a good option for comparing features and making a final decision.