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GENERATORS BY INDUSTRY
Generators for Airports: What Airports Run and What We Buy
Airports are legally required to keep the power on — for runways, terminals, and the national airspace system itself. Here is what that mandate buys, and when those units hit the used market.
What the FAA requires.
FAA Order JO 6030.20G governs standby power for the National Airspace System, and the National Electrical Code classifies airport standby loads as legally required (NEC 701) for Category II/III operations. In practice this means airports maintain mixed generator fleets — natural gas units for some loads, diesel for terminals and data centers — sized so that critical operations never depend on a single source.
What airport generators back up.
The critical list: runway and approach lighting, air traffic control support systems, terminal life-safety systems, baggage and security screening, data centers, and fuel farm controls. It is a layered load — some of it life-safety, all of it operationally critical — which is why airports run diverse fleets rather than single units.
When airports sell their used generators.
Fleet modernization programs, terminal expansions that reconfigure emergency power, and regulation updates all rotate airport generators out. Like hospitals, airports maintain standby equipment on strict schedules — these units test monthly and run rarely, so they retire with low hours and documented histories.
Sell your facility’s generator to Ironcrest.
When your facility upgrades, consolidates, or decommissions, Ironcrest buys used generator sets outright — single units and full fleets. We buy the major makes: Cummins, Caterpillar, Kohler, and Generac, from 100 kW up to multi-megawatt installations.
- Send the details. Photograph the nameplate (make, model, kW/kVA rating), the hour meter, and the overall condition — inside and out.
- Get today’s offer. We price on make, size, hours, condition, and the current market — no public price sheets, no games.
- We handle pickup. Ironcrest runs nationwide. We coordinate rigging, loading, and transport from your facility.
Sell your generator to Ironcrest → | Call or text 312-880-8174
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions, answered.
Are airports required to have backup generators?
Yes. FAA requirements cover standby power for National Airspace System operations, and the NEC classifies airport standby loads as legally required for Category II/III operations.
What systems do airport generators back up?
Runway and approach lighting, air traffic control support, terminal life-safety systems, screening, data centers, and fuel farm controls — a layered critical load.
Diesel or natural gas at airports?
Both — airports typically run mixed fleets, with diesel common for terminals and data centers and natural gas for other loads.
When do airports sell used generators?
On fleet modernization, terminal expansions, and regulation updates. Airport standby units typically retire with low hours and strict maintenance documentation.
Does Ironcrest buy used airport generators?
Yes — from 100 kW to multi-megawatt, single units and fleets, with nationwide pickup from your facility.
INDUSTRY POWER
The runway cannot go dark.
Airport backup power is not optional and not just about the terminal. Federal requirements cover the systems that keep aircraft moving safely — which makes airport generator fleets some of the most deliberately specified standby equipment in the country.
New: Explore the Ironcrest Copper Resource Center — grades, markets, identification guides, and interactive tools.
HOW SELLING WORKS
Three steps to an offer.
Material review
We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.
Receive an offer
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.