Considerations provided by Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com looking at the forthcoming regulation of Ground Handling Companies
EASA Background
Following the changes to EASA Basic Regulation driven by to European Council Regulation 2018/1139 (Basic Regulation), EASA is introducing a number of changes related to the provision of European Aviation Ground Handling.
The Current Status – EASA
Note – There are currently no regulations applicable to the Role of Ground Handling other than the obligation which is placed on the operators to manage any subcontract service provider.
The existing requirement in Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 on-air operations concerning contracted services (ORO.GEN.205) continues to apply. This means that the management system and the compliance monitoring of an air operator should incorporate the activities of the Ground Handling Service Provider) GHSP.
EASA is introducing a Regulatory Framework which will become applicable at some “unspecified” point in the future. (EASA intends to use as a model the existing rules in the Air Operations Regulation (EU 965/2012) and its AMC and GM, which enable the use of industry standards.)
As a result of the regulatory “GAP” a number of Industry initiatives were developed including:
- IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
- IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO)
- The International Standard for Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAH)
What are we likely to see?
With the EASA Ground handling roadmap and the future regulation, the intention is to ensure that the procedures will be commonly agreed upon by the air operator and the Ground Handling Service Provider (GHSP) from an equal position and will address the safety risk in the most effective way. This should reduce the operational risk in the ground services.
The UAE Position – Considerations related to UAE ANNEX IV Essential Requirements for Ground Handling Services
Responsibilities of the Ground Handling Services Provider
The Provider of Ground Handling Service is responsible for the safe operation of its activities at the aerodrome.
The responsibilities of the provider are as follows:
- The provider shall have all the means necessary to ensure the safe provision of service at the aerodrome. Those means shall include, but are not limited to,
o Facilities,
o Personnel,
o Equipment and
o Material.
- The provider shall comply with the procedures contained in the aerodrome manual, including those in relation to movements of its vehicles, equipment, and personnel and the risk related to aerodrome operations in winter, at night, and in adverse weather conditions;
- The provider shall provide the ground handling services in accordance with the procedures and instructions of the aircraft operator it serves;
- The provider shall ensure that manuals for the operation and maintenance of ground handling equipment are available, applied in practice, and cover
o Operation,
o Maintenance and Repair Instructions,
o Servicing Information,
o Troubleshooting and Inspection Procedures.
- The provider shall use only adequately trained and qualified personnel and shall ensure the implementation and maintenance of training and checking programmes to ensure the continuing competence of all relevant personnel;
- The provider shall ensure that its personnel is physically and mentally fit to execute their functions satisfactorily, taking into account the type of activity and in particular its potential safety and safety-related security impact.
Management systems
- As appropriate for the type of activity undertaken and the size of the organisation, the provider shall implement and maintain a management system to ensure compliance with the essential requirements set out in this Annex, manage safety risks, and to aim for continuous improvement of this system.
- Such a system shall be coordinated with the management system of the aerodrome operator and aircraft operator.
- The provider shall establish an occurrence reporting system as part of the management system (to contribute to the aim of continuous improvement of safety.).
- Without prejudice to other reporting obligations, the provider shall transmit all occurrences to the reporting system of the aerodrome operator, the aircraft operator, and, if relevant, to that of the air traffic service provider.
- The provider shall develop a ground handling service manual and operate in accordance with that manual.
o Such manual shall contain:
– All necessary instructions,
– Information and procedures for the service, the management system, and for service personnel to perform their duties.
Next Steps
Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com and Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com provide EASA & GCAA Regulatory Compliant & Vocational Training – For Details please email – team@sassofia.com
Tags:
Ground Handling, IATA, UAE, Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, European Council Regulation 2018/1139, EASA Basic Regulation No 1139/2018, CAR-PART I-CAR-BR, UAE GCAA ANNEX IV, Airport Handling Manual (AHM), Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO), International Standard for Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAH)
