GROUND OPERATIONS

AREAS OF ACTIVITY

Airport Handling Manual (AHM)

IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM)
Airside safety
Ground support equipment
Airside environmental concerns
Load control
Aircraft movement
Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA)

BENEFITS

Forge a network of international contacts to exchange views and experience

Influence the future of the air transport industry by participating in working group meetings
Access to IATA subject matter experts in the selected area
Gain valuable expertise and knowledge in regards to ground handling priorities
Assist in the development of industry standards, processes, procedures and technical solutions
Facilitate implementation of these standards and recommended practices through the AHM and IGOM
Future developments in new ground support equipment products & services

IGHC AND WORKING GROUPS

Mr. Joseph Suidan
Head of Ground Operations
Tel: +15148740202 Ext. 3700
E-mail: suidanj@iata.org

Contact for day-to-day business

Iva Pluhackova
Manager, Ground Operations
Tel : +15148740202 Ext. 3417
Email : pluhackovai@iata.org

AIRSIDE SAFETY GROUP (ASG)

The key objective of the ASG is to enhance airside safety performance. This Task Force is focusing on the major risks to
ground handling and is involved in development of following areas:

Safety Management System
o Develop guidance for implementation in ground ops
o Human factors program

Occupational Health and Safety
o Focus on procedures and standards
o Facility and equipment guidelines to reduce injuries

Ground Damage Database

Analysis of safety data

Evaluate the data driven change of procedures, standards or guidelines
ASG updates IATA Airport Handling Manual section 06.

GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT (GSEE)

This Task Force provides guidance in the development of industry standards for Ground Support Equipment and
Environmental issues related to the operation of GSE.
The main objectives are:

Updating of AHM Chapter 9 & 10.

Increase safety, decrease aircraft damages

Create environmental standards and recommended best practices

Develop guidelines for assessing the environmental impact of ground handling operations

Establish recommendations for the development of future GSE designed to minimize the environmental impact

Identify prevention strategies to minimise:
o injuries to ramp personnel
o ground damage to aircraft by improved design and preferred practices
o Provide a forum for the communication and exchange of:

GSE and environmental information.

future developments
o Maintain a liaison with other related IATA, SAE and A4A committees, sub-committees, working groups
and other industry groups and international standards bodies

LOAD CONTROL & MESSAGING (LCAM)

LCAM continually review chapter 5 (Load Control) and 7 (Aircraft Movement Control) of IATAs AHM and Chapter 5 of the
IGOM. This Task Force is a forum for the exchange of load control and aircraft movement related information; provides
expertise for load control and develops and reviews:

Load control procedures

Loading supervision responsibilities

Load control and Loading supervision training guidelines
There are 2 main streams in this TF:

Load control

IT and messages

AVIATION GROUND SERVICES AGREEMENTS (AGSA)

This Task Force is responsible for reviewing and updating all the standard Ground services agreements in the
Airport Handling Manual Chapter 8. The Task Force is divided into teams. Team 1 works on the Main Agreement
and Team 3 works on the Annex A. Team 2 is currently inactive and its existence will be re-evaluated.

IATA GROUND OPERATIONS MANUAL (IGOM)

This Task Force was established to develop IATA Ground Operations Manual.
IGOM objective is to:

Driving costs down by reducing complexity & extent of airline GOMs

Simplification of the training requirements

Reduction in damages due to common procedures

Outlines the generic procedures for most of the ground handling process

To standardize processes at participating companies

Best practice & safest procedures which ISAGO can audit IGOM as acceptable means of compliance

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
IATA GROUND HANDLING COUNCIL (IGHC) EXHIBITION
The IGHC is the principle forum of organizations involved in worldwide airline ground handling services. The IGHC brings
together IATA and non-IATA airlines, independent ground handling companies, airports, participants in the IATA Strategic
Partnerships and other parties. The IGHC meets on an annual basis usually in April/May in conjunction with IGHC Ground
Handling Conference. At this meeting, more than 700 executives meet to discuss issues of mutual concern and of special
interest to the ground handling community. The IGHC provides an ideal opportunity to hear how industry experts and
leaders are addressing the major issues of today and participate in interactive discussions with those experts. The trade
exhibition is the perfect opportunity to meet business contacts, establish new relationships and learn about the latest
products and services available to the ground handling industry.
Strategic Partners involved in the airport services have a privileged opportunity to exhibit at the IGHC at discounted rates.
www.iata.org/events

PUBLICATIONS
Strategic Partners receive a complimentary copy of the Airport Handling Manual.
www.iata.org/publications

TRAINING COURSES
Strategic Partners may attend, IATA training courses at a reduced fee including:
Aircraft Weight & Balance
Airport Emergency Planning and Management
Airport Extreme Weather Operations and Planning
Airport Safety Management Systems
DGR courses (several levels)
ISAGO for GSPs
Station Operations Control
Station Ground Handling Management
ULD Handling Fundamentals
www.iata.org/training