A standardized training program for ground handling staff, subject to EU-wide norms and with a mandatory national monitoring office, is urgently needed.

For each aircraft handling operation, the loading crew must include at least one properly qualified aircraft handler.

The employees frequently offered to airports by temping agencies simply cannot have the necessary know-how after just two hours of on-the-job training. Passenger safety must come first.

• show the importance and complexity of the tasks of the aircraft handler for aviation safety.
• develop mandatory qualification standards geared to the latest safety requirements.
• support, while pursuing the above goals, the objectives of the EU, namely to have efficient ground handling services to achieve greater throughput at existing airports and avoid economic damage in the EU.
• take into account at the same time the reasonable interest of the aircraft handlers in having safe and healthy employment, because staff motivation is a basic requirement for ensuring that every handling operation can be completed attentively and quickly.