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Aviation Safety Initiative
Aircraft handling today
Profitability or safety? Speed or thoroughness? An aircraft handler in 2008 must live up to both demands because time on the ground costs money. The job now involves enormous responsibility, and has become technically demanding and complex.
Safety and security
... jointly ensure that air travel is safe..
Complex requirements
Ground handling work becomes more complex and demanding with each passing year. It bears little resemblance to the work of aircraft handlers 40 years ago. Have a look at our photo gallery!
For example, ground handlers today are responsible for implementing security regulations for passengers, cargo and baggage. While loading and unloading an aircraft, they have to keep an eye on everything that is happening on the ramp – and take action when they see anything unusual, for instance a suspicious piece of luggage. They perform tasks which a few years ago were still being carried out by specially trained airport employees, for instance aircraft mechanics.
These requirements will become even greater in the future. With airport capacity getting tighter, ground transport services must become even more efficient, and aviation in general must focus more closely on the bottom line without compromising safety.
For example, ground handlers today are responsible for implementing security regulations for passengers, cargo and baggage. While loading and unloading an aircraft, they have to keep an eye on everything that is happening on the ramp – and take action when they see anything unusual, for instance a suspicious piece of luggage. They perform tasks which a few years ago were still being carried out by specially trained airport employees, for instance aircraft mechanics.
These requirements will become even greater in the future. With airport capacity getting tighter, ground transport services must become even more efficient, and aviation in general must focus more closely on the bottom line without compromising safety.
The goal: minimum qualification standards for aircraft handlers
The aircraft handler makes a key contribution to keeping air travel safe (safety and security). And the requirements are constantly increasing.
A single error in the work of the aircraft ground handler can have dramatic consequences, the most harmless of which would be damage to an aircraft or putting a suitcase on the wrong plane.
This makes it all the more incomprehensible why there are no EU training standards for aircraft handlers and no minimum qualification standard. This must change. Please lend us your support – so that we all can continue in the future to have complete peace of mind when boarding the safest mode of transport.
A single error in the work of the aircraft ground handler can have dramatic consequences, the most harmless of which would be damage to an aircraft or putting a suitcase on the wrong plane.
This makes it all the more incomprehensible why there are no EU training standards for aircraft handlers and no minimum qualification standard. This must change. Please lend us your support – so that we all can continue in the future to have complete peace of mind when boarding the safest mode of transport.
