Editing Ground crew (section)

==Airport ground crew==
[[File:Time-lapse and tilt-shift views of Osaka International Airport, Osaka, Japan.webm|thumb|Time-lapse ([[Tilt–shift photography|tilt-shifted]]) of airport ground crew operating [[ground support equipment]] at [[Itami Airport|Osaka International Airport]].]]
Ground crew who are employed by the individual [[airport]] include personnel who are tasked to do the following operations: aircraft fuelling suppliers, toilet effluent tank extraction operatives, interior cabin cleaners, aircraft exterior [[de-icing]] operatives, on-board food delivery suppliers (for crew and passengers), baggage, cargo and / or freight handlers (for loading and offloading into the lower hold), ramp agents and boarding gate operatives, flight dispatchers, and even customer service agents, may also loosely be described as ground crew.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ground crew services and classification|url=http://www.AirportFreak.yolasite.com/ground-crew.php|website=www.AirportFreak.yolasite.com|publisher=AirportFreak|access-date=2021-05-04}}</ref>

Other typical airport ground crew include personnel who are responsible for regular routine [[Runway sweeper|sweeping]] of all operational [[runway]]s, runway exits and hold points, [[taxiway]]s, hardstanding (parking) areas, and passenger terminal areas (including [[Jet bridge|sky-bridges]] or 'gates'); for clearing of any general and typical debris or garbage (most commonly collected on runways is tyre debris, and wind-blown dirt, sand, earth, grass, etc.; not only from ambient winds, but also from the vortices generated by the aerodynamic elements of an aircraft at speed, along with engine induction and jet exhaust thrust).  This is absolutely critical to safe airport operations, as it the major process used to prevent [[foreign object damage]] (FOD), whereby a foreign object could sucked into an aircraft engine, or cut and puncture aircraft tyres.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Foreign Object Debris (FOD)|url=https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Foreign_Object_Debris_(FOD)|website=www.skybrary.aero|publisher=SKYbrary Aviation Safety|access-date=2021-05-04}}</ref>  On military facilities, ground crew members are tasked with daily FOD walks, or 'FOD plods', whereby a team of people will fan out in a line across the entire width of the runway, and walk the length of the entire active runway, to visually inspect the runway surface, and its immediate environs, to look for and removes any items or 'foreign objects' found; this is typically done in the morning, prior to the first despatch of an aircraft for that day.

Virtually all airports which cater for large aircraft will have a fleet of [[pushback (aviation)|pushback]] tugs.  Other possible classifications of airport ground crews may include [[Airport bus|airport shuttle bus]] drivers, [[Aircraft rescue and firefighting|airport firefighters]], first aid and qualified medical services, police (often [[Armed police|armed]] in these days of high risks of potential terrorist attacks), and general guard and security services.  Airports with international connections will also have passport control agents, border, customs and immigration force officers.  Many airports also have a live animal reception centre, staffed by vets, veterinary nurses, and administrators; for the purposes of checking animal health and welfare, along with correct documentation such as permits to fly, [[pet passport]]s, etc., and will also be responsible for the prevention of importing any illegal, prohibited, or endangered species of animal.

Dependent on geographic location, other airport ground crew may also employ [[winter service vehicle]]s, specifically snow clearance vehicles; including fleets of multiple [[Snow sweeper|sweepers]], [[Snow plough|ploughs]], and [[snow blower]]s.  Ground [[de-icing]] operatives may be used; whereby one or more vehicles, similar to an agricultural [[crop sprayer]] with fold-out extendible boom arms is used to spray a non-corrosive aircraft-safe de-icing fluid onto all operational hard surfaces, to melt any existing surface ice, and prevent the formation of new ice during the certified operating hours of the airport.  Furthermore, teams of avian dispersal agents, commonly known as 'bird scarers' will be utilised to clear any birds, especially along the entire length runway, and also on the runway approach glide-paths, and runway departure paths.

===Military airport===
For military [[airbase]]s which operate (or may be required to operate) armed aircraft, i.e., those aircraft capable of carrying explosive ordnance, or rapid-fire canons; an extremely specific ground crew role is the weapons technician.