IATA: supporting the industry
“Based on IATA initiatives, recommended practices and manuals, namely ISAGO, AHM, IGOM, we try to support the ground handlers and the airlines through structured training to address operational and business management topics. There are different methods of studying, either in our classrooms or through self-study kits and e-learning. We are happy to see that the stakeholders and members of IATA and IGHC appreciate our training. Every year we are running an increased number of classes, both in our training centres as well as in-house. In the last four years, we delivered more than 200 classes dedicated to Ground Operations topics.
“We aim to provide top quality training solutions to ground operations professionals. The training of a new APCS (Airport, Passenger, Cargo & Security) division within IATA shows the importance of airport services for the industry. This is where everything starts and stops for the passengers and cargo. We focus on solutions that are always relevant to the challenges of the industry and promote safety and efficiency.
“Since we deliver training in more than 50 countries and to participants coming from more than 90 different countries, it is very important to have consistency as well as commercial neutrality in our training courses. So all participants should have the same experience avoiding the promotion of any specific product, system and equipment. For that reason until now we do not offer hands-on training or simulators that might limit our flexibility and equal treatment of GSE and support systems. In the near future, we will introduce courses that will combine with classroom and live operations. We carefully designed this new concept with well-respected partners and soon we will be able to announce it together with more details for the classes that will be offered in 2015.
“We constantly look out for any innovative solutions that can be applied in a professional training environment. Self-study solutions and e-learning is offered by IATA for more than ten years now and we have always been a trustworthy, neutral leader in this area. What is unique in our ground operations training is the access to the IGHC and the Working Groups that provide the standards and the recommended practices. There is a large number of great professionals who dedicate a lot of time and they share their vast experience to make ground handling ever more efficient and safe. We are very fortunate that the members of the working groups dedicate time to support the IATA initiatives.
“IATA trained over 92,000 professionals in 2013 through classroom and self-study courses. Participants come from more than 90 countries and from over 1000 organizations and government authorities. This is reflected in Ground Operations training with more than 30 directly related courses.
“We are here to support the industry in the best possible way. All revenue-generating activities, including training, are used every year to finance industry-wide priorities as agreed with our members and the industry stakeholders.”
– Victor De Barrena, Director of the IATA Training and Development Insititute (ITDI)
Air France Ecole des Escales: adaptable and innovative
With training delivered at its headquarters at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport; at training centres around France; and by carefully selected partners around the world, the Air France Ecole des Escales offers a truly global programme.
The academy is focused on meeting the airline industry’s need for flexible, cost-effective and high-quality training. This covers a wide range of airport activities: airline airport management, organization and station performance; air navigation and infrastructure services, weight and balance; dangerous goods regulations; airside management; ramp operations; fuel environment; quality and airline operations; station control; safety at work; and customer services.
AGS spoke to Sales Manager Hervé Gueusquin. “We do four types of training,” he explains. “Classical, classroom-based, with one instructor and a group of people. Then we do on-the-job training, distance training, and e-learning. There’s also blended training, where you have a trainer in the room but there’s an accompanying e-learning. Training ranges from half-day to one day, three or four days. If it’s a training path, for example to become an equipment operator, there would be different steps to climbs the ladder and when you reach the top you’re qualified.”
Due to its airport location, the Ecole des Escales can train students directly on aircraft and equipment using a training site on the ramp. There is also a classroom within the terminal, where trainees can learn to operate IT systems in real time. Gueusquin continues, “We also have training rigs and simulators for fire drills, and a space where we train people to extinguish fire, and there’s an aircraft with slides where we can practice cabin evacuation.”
The Ecole des Escales can tailor its training exactly to meet the customer’s needs.
“We adapt,” says Gueusquin. “Although we’re a big airline we know how to make things easy for customers. We don’t impose our rules. Furthermore, the customer is 100% guaranteed that their staff will get the same courses that we give our own staff – we don’t dilute our product.”
