It is the nature of the airline ground services business that much of the vital work done to keep the aviation system functioning smoothly is largely out of the public eye. Nevertheless, there are a number of important developments under way, and the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Ground Operations Team is heavily involved in projects which are essential for the well-being of the industry, keeping it abreast of the latest developments in technology, regulations and best practices.
Implementing the IGOM
One of the key projects to drive efficiency and quality improvements has been the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM). The IGOM was developed in response to industry demands for enhanced ground operational safety and damage reduction. It is the core manual for all ground operations and provides standard procedures for frontline personnel. As a global standard, the more widely adopted it is, the more effective it becomes. Consequently, the IATA Board has set a 2015 target for 35% of IATA member airlines to have either completed a gap analysis between their GOM and IGOM or to have started implementing IGOM as their minimum requirement for ground operations by the end of 2015. To assist IATA members in this task, the Ground Operations Team has, together with the Association’s regional representatives, put together a series of IGOM Implementation Seminars and Workshops in various parts of the world. These sessions are primarily aimed at IATA member airlines to promote the achievement of the Board target, but they are also open to ground service providers (GSPs) as well as civil aviation and airport authorities. The Seminar, which is a single-day programme, focuses on the post holder and other company decision-maker ranks. Its aim is to introduce them to IGOM as a concept and what is expected as a result of implementing IGOM within their company. The two-day Workshop, by contrast, targets the companies’ processes and procedures subject matter experts and offers intensive hands-on sessions where delegates work on practical examples of implementing IGOM as well as providing opportunities for these people to share and discuss their experiences.
At the time of writing, the first Seminar and Workshop sessions held in London have been completed, while registrations for the following sessions in Singapore, São Paulo and Amman are growing strongly.
Feedback from the London sessions – attended by 22 airlines, two ground service providers and one civil aviation authority – was very positive, from which a good uptake in IGOM implementation in Europe can be expected. The Singapore sessions are proving even more popular with 34 airlines, eight ground service providers, five airports and six civil aviation authorities already signed up.
Naturally, introducing and implementing something with such far-reaching implications does not necessarily have a smooth passage on its way from concept to everyday practice. There have been some misconceptions and misunderstandings, which we hope have now been clarified and understood. First among these is the fact that IGOM is a recommended practice, not a mandatory one. This subject was discussed and confirmed in London to the agreement of all who attended. The second aspect concerns the integration of IGOM and the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO). While there have been and will continue to be very close links between these two interrelated programmes, it is not essential to have implemented IGOM to pass an ISAGO audit. What IGOM does for ISAGO audits is to make the audit process easier and more streamlined – saving both the auditors and the GSP time if there is clear evidence that the GSP and the airlines that it serves have implemented IGOM.
Engineering out the risk in ground operations
While there are many factors involved in ground damage to aircraft caused by the use of ground support equipment (GSE), one of the aspects that can potentially make a difference is the use of technology enhancements to GSE. It wasn’t that many years ago that cars had no ABS brakes or traction control, whereas now even the cheapest of entry level cars are equipped with these features. Today even mid-range cars are increasingly equipped with lane departure warning systems and self-parking capabilities, while prototype autonomous cars have set off to cross the US from coast to coast without a driver. With this in mind, it is not a step too far to wonder whether these advances could deliver some tangible benefits to the ground handling and aviation industry. The coming of the composite aircraft fuselage has sparked renewed interest in this topic due to the difference in consequences of impact damage to these airframes. During the era of metal airframes serious impacts are immediately visible and receive the correct attention and remedial action, even if it causes delays and costs, while so-called ‘ramp rash’ – small nicks and scratches – has been tolerated to a lesser or greater extent. With composites, however, damage can be hidden behind a surface that has sprung back to shape after a collision, so there is zero tolerance for any impact, no matter how apparently minor.
GSE manufacturers have been offering the options of adding enhanced technology protective systems to their equipment but report that there has not been much demand for it until recently. The costs of the technology and some caution as to its reliability under all conditions, often stemming from experience of past breakdowns, have been cited as reasons.
Aside from the serious nature of hidden damage to composite fuselages, the costs of delays and fixing ground damage are considerable, regardless of the material used to make the airframe, and airlines are increasingly calling for measures to minimise these costs. With this in mind, the IATA Ground Handling Council’s GSEE task force has taken the initiative to update a considerable number of the sections of Chapter 9 of the Airport Handling Manual, to reflect the need to considerably improve collision avoidance and mitigation measures on this equipment that are now made possible by today’s enhanced technology.
Given the increasingly common usage of sensors and cameras coupled with control systems, this is a progressive, sensible utilisation of reliable and readily available systems to help airlines and ground service providers deliver a superior level of service with reduced costs.
28th IGHC Conference – Istanbul, Turkey – 26 to 29 April 2015
Building on the success of its last meeting in Kuala Lumpur, IATA’s premier ground handling event moves to Europe for 2015 – and what better place to discuss the issues under the theme of ‘Value at the Crossroads of Service and Costs’ than in Istanbul, long a crossroads of trade and cultures.
This year’s IGHC is hosted by Turkish Airlines, strongly supported by Havas, Çelebi and TGS, plus many other local companies, who have most generously sponsored events, entertainment and breaks to provide our 750 expected delegates with an event to remember.
The conference starts, as usual, on the Sunday afternoon with a session for new members and participants so they can meet with the IGHC officers as well as the task force chairs and vice-chairs and become acquainted with the workings of the IGHC as well as how this fits in with the IATA structure. In addition they will learn about the Airport Handling Manual and IATA Ground Handling Manual and how the standards and procedures are developed.
The main event commences on Monday and it is here that there is a change in format, based on feedback received from previous events. Each of the main days of the conference now has its own plenary session stream to focus the subjects and topics for the day. Monday’s stream is ‘Improving Customer Experience’ and right from the start with the opening address the discussion will home in on this, covering our preparations for passenger handling for tomorrow’s passengers as well as simplifying the business in ground operations. The afternoons are dedicated to workshops with a wide enough scope to pique the interest of even the most knowledgeable of our delegates.
Tuesday’s stream concerns ‘Enhanced Operations’ and kicks off with a session on the drive towards standards and procedures. These bring consistency to the industry through being designed to be globally applicable. Tuesday’s mid-morning session takes a look at occupational health and safety issues. These should be helping you and your business, not grounding you, and this session offers insight into how to turn them to your advantage. Wrapping up the second day’s plenary session is an in-depth look at the air cargo chain right from the customer, through the facility and onto the aircraft, and how we can best improve this in the context of ground handling. Naturally IGOM, which is front and centre this year, features prominently in Tuesday’s afternoon sessions. Both a workshop session on IGOM Implementation, and the opportunity to meet IGOM experts one-on-one to address any queries or comments you might have concerning implementation, are on offer.
‘Business, Development, Leadership’ is the stream for the final day of the conference, with a look at the financial health of the industry and the business environment. Supporting these sessions is an update on electronic invoicing and a report on digital transformation in aviation.
Old hands will know that the IGHC conference also includes the IGHC’s annual meeting, so the meeting’s business will also be included during the conference with voting for IGHC officers as well as changes to the Airport Handling Manual.
One of the most popular features of the IGHC Conference is its networking opportunities. Many people tell us that they accomplish more business during the IGHC Conference than they can get done in several months of travelling. To further improve this aspect we have launched the IGHC Mobile App (http://www.ighc.marcom-connect.com) and Networking Tool that includes up-to-date information such as the agenda, speakers database, the workshops and the sponsors along with the facility to set up meetings with all the delegates.
Of course, the IGHC Conference does not neglect the social side of its obligations and, in partnership with the sponsors, the evenings are likely to be as fully occupied as the days.
For more details on the IGHC Conference please go to: www.iata.org/ighc2015
