Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the exposure related to Human Factors Error within the Airport Ramp Operations.
Ramp operations staff face a variety of safety concerns and hazards due to the complexity of aerodrome tasks, as well as the multiple vehicles and equipment used to service aircraft. The airport ramp area is also saturated with traffic and noise.
Aerodrome ramp safety remains a significant safety concern. The ramp area is the centre of a vast number of support activities as well as continuous (24/7 at many airports) movements from aircraft, vehicles, equipment, and people.
The Airport Environment accommodates personnel as well as contractors from multiple different organizations.
Consider the presence on the ramp of personnel related to the following activities:
- Airport operations,
- Aircraft maintenance,
- Airport Ramp Services,
- Airport police and Fire Services,
- Security personnel,
- Ground handlers,
- Caterers,
- Refueling.
Ramp Failure Causes – Aircraft ramp damage is often caused by failure to follow the procedure.
- Vehicles approaching aircraft without performing break test or Driving / taking equipment closer to the aircraft than company policy or procedures permit.
- Not using banksman (Vehicle Marshaller – guide), leaving unattended vehicles running.
- Tomfoolery or messing about around the Aircraft.
- Misjudgment (thinking you are not as close as you are) or failure to judge clearances correctly, often associated with complacency.
- Distraction (something else happening on-ramp – colleague or passenger / weather / radio or phone / non work-related – other emotional distraction).
- Rushing (end of shift / tea break / next job / short of staff).
- Poor allocation of resources.
Once we take the view that Humans do not deliberately make mistakes, we start to understand the importance of mitigating any “perceived” exposures.
By understanding how humans and human behaviour can safely and efficiently be integrated within the business roles which we need to perform.
Organisations should strive to effectively manage human factors within the organization, moreover to do so by identifying the risks and exposures and to put in place a system which will encourage all employees to work together to identify and report threats.
Driving Ramp Safety Improvements
The Airport Environment is one of continuous activity with several significant Human Factor (HF) Contributory Factors.
- Inadequate communication being a significant issue across the entire Airport ecosystem.
- Inadequate Process and Procedures.
- Lack of Training.
o Whilst the term “inadequate training” may seem to be somewhat overused it really is of paramount importance to ensure the highest level of training is delivered to raise awareness across the different business elements.
Next Steps
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Sofema Aviation Service (www.sassofia.com) provides Classroom & Webinar Training covering Ramp Safety & Ramp Human Factors Training –  Please see the following course: Aircraft Ramp Safety and Ramp Human Factors Initial Training – 2 Days or email Team@sassofia.com if you have any questions or need additional details.
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Aerodrome Ramp Services, Aircraft Ramp, Airport Ramp Operations, aviation, aviation safety, Aviation Training, EASA, HF, human factor, Human Factors, Human Factors Error, Ramp damage, Ramp Human Factors, Ramp Operations, Ramp Safety, Safety, Safety Management System, SAS blogs
