Ground handling services refer to the range of activities that support aircraft operations at airports. These services are crucial for ensuring safe and efficient air travel operations. Ground handling encompasses all the tasks that take place from when an aircraft arrives at the airport gate until it departs.
Why are ground handling services needed?
Ground handling services are essential for several reasons:
- Safety – Proper ground handling helps maintain aviation safety standards. Tasks like aircraft marshaling, loading/unloading, refueling, etc. require trained personnel to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Operations efficiency – Specialized ground staff help expedite turnaround times and minimize aircraft ground time. This allows airlines to maximize aircraft utilization and productivity.
- Passenger experience – Ground handlers facilitate essential passenger-related services like check-in, baggage handling, lounge access, boarding, etc. These contribute to a seamless and comfortable travel experience.
- Regulatory compliance – Ground activities must adhere to airport rules and aviation regulations. Ground handlers ensure compliance through proper documentation, routine inspections, etc.
- Cost savings – Airlines can focus on core business like flight operations when ground activities are outsourced. Third-party handlers bring expertise and economies of scale.
In summary, ground handlers allow airlines to concentrate on inflight operations while providing safe, efficient, and cost-effective ground support at airports.
What are the different types of ground handling services?
Ground handling services can be classified into three main categories:
1. Passenger Handling
This includes all services related to airline passengers:
- Check-in – Managing check-in desks and kiosks, issuing boarding passes, handling baggage, etc.
- Boarding – Verifying documents, assisting special needs passengers, managing seating, etc.
- Lost baggage – Addressing missing or mishandled baggage issues.
- Lounges – Managing airline lounges and providing amenities to passengers.
2. Ramp Handling
This covers services needed to handle aircraft upon arrival and departure:
- Marshaling – Guiding aircraft movement on the tarmac using hand signals.
- Baggage handling – Loading/unloading checked baggage and cargo.
- Refueling – Fueling aircraft and providing fuel quality/quantity checks.
- Aircraft servicing – Potable water replenishment, waste removal, etc.
- Aircraft cleaning – External washing, cabin cleaning, sanitization, etc.
- Pushback/towing – Repositioning aircraft using tugs and tow vehicles.
- De-icing – Removing ice, snow, and frost accumulation from aircraft surfaces.
3. Load Control & Flight Operations
These involve flight preparation, documents, and load management:
- Weight & balance – Calculating aircraft center of gravity and allowable payload.
- Load planning – Determining cargo/baggage distribution for aircraft balance.
- Flight operations – Preparing flight plans, manuals, charts, etc.
- Documents – Handling customs forms, NOTAMs, weather info, flight manifests, etc.
Some ground handlers provide all-inclusive services while others provide specialized packages depending on airline requirements.
What are the step-by-step ground handling procedures for an arriving flight?
Here is an overview of typical ground handling tasks when an aircraft arrives at the gate:
- Planning – The ground operations team reviews flight details, airport conditions, and prepares equipment/staff.
- Parking guidance – Marshals wearing reflective gear use hand signals to guide aircraft to the parking bay.
- Chocking – Wheel chocks are placed around landing gear to prevent aircraft movement.
- Communications – Ground crew establishes contact with flight deck for any special handling needs.
- Passenger disembarking – Jet bridge or stairs are secured, doors opened, and passengers disembark.
- Safety checks – External walk-around to inspect aircraft condition and release door seals.
- Baggage unloading – Baggage containers are unloaded from holds by baggage handlers/tugs.
- Catering replenishment – Used cabin items removed and fresh catering supplies stocked.
- Cabin cleaning – Crew tidies cabin, clears trash, cleans lavatories, replaces pillows/blankets.
- Toilet servicing – Toilet waste pumped out, tanks flushed and refilled with sanitizing fluid.
- Refueling – Fuel nozzles attached to wings/fuselage and aircraft refueled to required levels.
- Post-flight checks – Engineers inspect aircraft per MEL/CDL requirements.
- Documentation – Ground staff complete arrival reports, maintenance logs, fuel slips, etc.
The entire turnaround is carefully coordinated by the ground handling team to minimize aircraft ground time.
What equipment is used by ground handlers?
Ground handlers utilize a wide variety of ramp equipment to perform their tasks efficiently. Some key ground support vehicles and equipment include:
- Pushback tugs – Powerful tugs that pushback aircraft from gates.
- Belt loaders – Conveyor belts used for baggage/cargo loading.
- Container loaders – Forklifts to load/unload cargo and baggage containers.
- Air start units – Portable units provide compressed air to aircraft engines.
- Passenger stairs – Mobile stair trucks for boarding/disembarking.
- Air conditioning units – Provide cooled air to aircraft on the ground.
- Lavatory service trucks – Empties aircraft toilet waste tanks.
- Water service trucks – Replenish aircraft water supplies.
- Catering trucks – Transport fresh catering supplies to aircraft.
- Fuel trucks – Mobile tankers that fuel up aircraft.
In addition, ground handlers use other common ramp equipment like chocks, cones, tow bars, tractors, pallet loaders, baggage carts, container dollies, etc.
What are the IATA standard codes used in ground handling?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has standardized ground handling codes that are commonly used in aviation:
Code | Ground handling activity |
---|---|
AC | Aircraft Handling and Loading |
CT | Catering Services |
CL | Cabin Services |
FW | Freight and Mail Handling |
FP | Fuel & Oil Handling |
SU | Surface Transport |
CR | Crew Administration |
TK | Ticketing Services |
TO | Traffic Handling |
LD | Load Control Services |
CS | Cargo Services |
SG | Security Services |
DE | De-icing Services |
Using these standardized codes help coordinate ground handling responsibilities between various service providers and airlines.
What are the typical KPIs used to measure ground handler performance?
Key performance indicators (KPIs) allow airlines and airports to evaluate ground handling quality, efficiency and safety. Some important ground handling KPIs include:
- On time performance (OTP) – Percentage of flights handled within scheduled arrival/departure times.
- Turnaround time – Time taken between aircraft arriving and departing a gate.
- Baggage handling – % of bags loaded/offloaded within time limits, lost baggage rates.
- Equipment reliability – Percentage of ground support equipment available and operational.
- Fueling accuracy – Adherence to fuel quantity and quality standards.
- Safety incidents – Number of ground incidents like injuries, ramp accidents, aircraft damage, etc.
- Security compliance – Adherence to safety and security regulations.
- Service quality – Customer satisfaction scores for ground handling services.
- Staff training – Percentage of staff completing required training programs.
Tracking such KPIs help identify improvement areas for ground handlers and ensure efficient, safe, and cost-effective ground operations.
What are some best practices for ground handlers?
Some best practices that leading ground handling companies implement are:
- Conducting thorough staff training on safety, procedures, and equipment operation.
- Monitoring ground activities using video surveillance and aircraft docking guidance systems.
- Using scanning technologies and RFID tags to track baggage and cargo.
- Equipping ramp vehicles like tugs and belt loaders with collision avoidance systems.
- Implementing mandatory drug and alcohol screening policies for all ramp personnel.
- Performing extensive background checks when hiring ground staff.
- Using advanced weather monitoring to proactively plan for deicing needs.
- Investing in latest ground support vehicles and equipment.
- Technology integration for real-time data transfer between stakeholders.
- Ensuring strong coordination between ground staff, cabin crew, ATC, and other groups.
Following such industry best practices is crucial for ground handlers to achieve operational excellence while maintaining safety and efficiency.
What are some key ground handling organizations?
Some major organizations involved in ground handling services include:
- IATA – Sets standards and provides training, certification, audits.
- IGOM – International Ground Operations Manual published by IATA.
- IAGHS – International Aviation Ground Handling Standards.
- TIACA – Representative association of air cargo industry.
- AHS – Airline Ground Services Association.
- ISAGO – IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations.
- AOCC – Airline Operators Committee Coordinating Council.
- GAS – Ground Aviation Services benchmarking standards.
Key ground handling companies include Aviation Services, Swissport International, Dnata, SATS Ltd., and Aviapartner Group.
Conclusion
Ground handling is a complex, multifaceted activity encompassing passenger, ramp, and load services. The various tasks are performed by trained specialists using specialized vehicles and equipment. Ground handlers play an indispensable role in enabling safe and on-time aircraft turnarounds. With air traffic predicted to double over the next two decades, ground handling will be even more crucial for delivering excellent airport operations and passenger experiences. Airlines and airports must continue working closely with ground handlers and adopting technological improvements to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability of ground operations.