Published on Tuesday 17 January 2023
Safety is everyone’s business as a failing link in the chain may have serious consequences. In order to reduce the number of ground handling incidents and create a positive safety culture, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DSAC) has produced a video series about the ground handling impact on flight safety.
Ground handling involves multiple stakeholders, which operate within important constraints of space, time and profitability. It is a complex activity, and a source of risks that should not be underestimated.
Indeed, one weak link in the long chain of safety – incorrect marshalling, equipment left behind, fuel spillage, weight and balance error, inadequate de-icing/anti-icing, collision - even a minor one - between an aircraft and a vehicle… may have considerable impact on flight safety.
Promoting a high level of safety in this yet little regulated field requires the involvement and coordination of everyone, especially airlines, subcontractors and airport operators.
Build a common vision of the risk
Feedback is an essential tool for improving aviation safety, and strengthening safety culture is key to improve occurrence reporting.
There is a wide variety of incidents related to ground operations: incorrectly secured cargo door, undetected aircraft damage, error in the quantity of fuel delivered or improperly secured cargo are all undesirable events, some of which have had dramatic consequences.
Raise awareness and train
Along with regulation and oversight, safety promotion is one of the three pillars of the State Safety Programme implemented by the DGAC .
In order to spread a positive safety culture, the DSAC has made a video series about ground handling’s impact on flight safety.
The objective is to show that everyone has a role to play in aviation safety, using short video clips, useable by agents, instructors and managers, during training sessions as well as in break rooms.
Three risk areas are covered by 23 video clips :
- Weight and balance, loading and securing
- Circulation on the ramp and the aircraft stand areas
- Approach and withdrawal of equipment
Lay the ground for a safe flight #23 - Every alarm must be dealt with
Vidéos précédentes
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #22 - Loading and securing bulk goods
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #21 - Systematic retracting of the airbridge before and after departure
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #20 - When an aircraft arrives, respect the unloading order
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #19 - Use a stepladder to open or close cargo doors
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #18 - Checking the cargo holds after unloading
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #17 - Checking the aircraft parking position
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #16 - Transmitting loading information
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #15 - Deploying an airbridge safely
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #14 - Respecting the loading plan
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #13 - Limiting risks related to FOD
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #12 - Respect the loading height in the bulk hold
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #11 - During the approach and withdrawal of equipment
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #10 - Checking pallets and containers before loading
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #9 - Safety on the aircraft stand during refuelling
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #8 - Cabin baggage put in the hold, passenger questioning
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #7 - Checking the height of the aircraft during loading and unloading
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #6 - Securing pallets and containers in the hold
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #5 - Preparation of loading documents
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #4 - Crossing a taxiway
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #3 - Systematic reporting of aircraft damage
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #2 - Weight data : no margin for error!
- Lay the ground for a safe flight #1 - Circulation in co-activity
Règlementation des services d’assistance en escale
Les services d’assistance en escale peuvent faire l’objet d’un agrément ou de limitations. Vous trouverez toutes les informations à ce sujet sur la page ci-dessous :
