Question

 3. List the different groups of ground handling service providers. What are the main characteristics of each group? 

 4. Which are the three key international ground handling bodies/agencies? Who do they represent  

Answer 1

3) Ground handling services consist of all procedures required for ensuring the safety and security of the aircraft and all involved stakeholders through the process of landing, parking and take off. Ground handling procedures can be segregated into two major groups of terminal or airside operations. The major groups of services provided can be defined as:

Ramp service providers which include supervision, marshaling, start-up, moving and towing of aircraft and safety measures,

On-ramp aircraft service providers which includes ground power supply, cooling heating or deicing services, repair of identified technical faults, fuelling and checking of wheels and tires, toilet servicing and water supply, routine and non routine maintenance and cleaning of all major areas important for safety and technical performance such as cockpit windows, wing, cabin windows and nacelles.

On board services providers provide services for cleaning the aircraft inside and all catering services, inflight entertainment any required servicing of cabin fittings or equipment and alteration of seat configuration.

External ramp equipment services comprising management of all loaders for catering and cargo including passenger steps and loading of mail and other required goods.

4) The international air transport association has established the required standard through airport handling manual and seeks to standardize the procedures worldwide through the IATA safety audit for ground operations ISAGO. It encourages all providers of ground handling services to register with the organization by meeting the required safety standards established by the organization.

The ground handling partnership introduced by the IATA is another forum helping ground handling professionals to have a common platform for optimizing services by developing and implementing standards and innovative solutions for achieving this goal. It helps to unite all providers to ensure adoption and implementation of the best standards in benchmark globally across airports.

The ground operations group of the IATA is responsible for fulfilling the four major goals of standardizing processes related to ground handling operations management and providing required training to minimize damage and injury resulting from inefficiency within round operations. It is responsible for ensuring that and open an effective market is maintained for the services while trying to achieve sustainability.