The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued safety requirements for ground handling service providers.
In a bid to ensure safe ground operations amid rising air traffic, the aviation regulator DGCA has released standards for ground handlers at airports including compulsory safety clearance as part of efforts aimed at making airport operations safe on the surface.
The measure was taken against the background of incidents that occurred while aircraft were on the ground in some airports and led to damage being done to the machines.
Rules for Ground Handling Service Providers
According to a release dated July 10, this comes as new Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) prepared after extensive consultations by DGCA will strengthen oversight mechanism.
In addition, it spells out minimum qualifications and training needs of ground personnel involved in airport apron duties.
Ground Handling Service Providers (GHSPs) must obtain Safety Clearance from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) within six months.
This is from July 8th when CAR was published by the Authority which gives them six months henceforth.
“The release said: “Putting in place robust safety protocols as envisaged in future by GHSPs will aid prevention and mitigation of accidents on the aprons and thereby improving quality of services delivered in safety sensitive functions.”
Under the new regulations, GHSP are required to have Accountable Managers, Station Managers and Safety Managers. For instance, recurrent training should be provided for apron staff among other requirements.
Rise in Indian Aircraft Movements
It has become necessary to establish ground handling related aircraft operational standards at Indian airports where none existed before because aircraft movements have increased phenomenally; there is growing complexity with regard to these operations; it is now common practice for third parties to handle planes on our ramps instead of airlines themselves; or alternatively speaking all those reasons combined together have compelled us into acting thus.”
Aircraft can be bigger; more equipment may be needed on the ground and time available between flight legs can decrease both of which are challenges to safety in operations.
Ground operations on airport aprons have become increasingly complex and potentially hazardous due to the growth of air traffic and the proliferation of third-party ground handling services, says DGCA.
Reasons for regulation
Apron areas are often characterized by congested areas that are busiest within airports where there occurs limited space and time constraints that accompany aircraft turnarounds.
“Unlike other sectors of the aviation industry like flight operations, air traffic management and aerodrome operations, there is no comparable level of regulation on the field.”
Consequently such provisions must be put in place as per an official from the regulator to ensure safe airport operation with respect to aircraft.
India has emerged as one of the fastest growing civil aviation markets globally with airlines expanding their fleets.
