Ground Handling
Ground handling covers all the activities that happen between an aircraft arriving at a gate and departing again. At JetStream Virtual, these processes are simulated realistically and shown on your OCC timeline.
Pre-Departure Activities
| Track | Activities | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PAX Flow | Passenger Boarding, Doors Closed | Passengers board the aircraft. Boarding time depends on aircraft size (narrowbody ~15min, widebody ~22min). Doors close shortly after. |
| Cargo | Baggage & Cargo Loading, Cargo Doors Closed | Checked bags and freight are loaded into the hold. Must complete before departure. |
| Servicing | GPU, Fuel, Catering, Water/Lavatory, Cleaning | Ground power connected, aircraft fueled, meals loaded, cabin cleaned. These happen in parallel. |
| Departure | Pushback & Engine Start, Taxi to Runway | Once all preparation is complete, the aircraft pushes back from the gate. |
Post-Arrival Activities
| Track | Activities |
|---|---|
| Ramp | Taxi to Gate, Chocks On / GPU, Doors Open |
| PAX | Disembarkation (passengers deplane) |
| Cargo | Baggage Offload, Cargo Offload |
Quick Turnaround
If the aircraft operated a flight within the last few hours, a quick turnaround is applied. Some activities are shortened or skipped (e.g., reduced catering, no deep cleaning). The timeline will show a “QT” indicator.
Widebody vs Narrowbody
Widebody aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350, A380, etc.) have longer turnaround times due to their size — more passengers, more cargo capacity, more galleys to load. A typical widebody turn takes 70-90 minutes; narrowbody 45-60 minutes.