Purpose

Strategic Partners in the Ground Operations Area of Involvement will participate in working groups and activities to improve safety and operational efficiency in ground operations. 

Ground Operations Strategic Partnerships Summary

Ground operations are an integral part of airline operations. IATA strives to lead the industry towards improved safety and operational efficiency in ground operations by developing standards, strategies and industry positions on sustainable ground operations. Further activities include initiating and encouraging the implementation of global solutions and running oversight programs for Ground Handling Service Providers. IATA represents the interests of its members globally, within specific regions, with regulators, interest groups and key industry stakeholders.

Benefits

Participation in relevant group(s) below. 

Activities

Access to meetings and working groups are subject to individual group terms of references.

Ground Operations Standards Working Group (GOS)
This working group develops and amends standards in areas of passenger and ramp handling; organization management, supervision, safety including occupational health and safety, training and procurement of ground handling services and catering. Such standards are published in:

Ground Operations Automation Digitalization Working Group (GAD)
This working group develops and amends standards in areas of load control, ramp digitalization and automation and Ground Support Equipment (GSE). Such standards are published in:

  • AHM chapters 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 
  • IGOM chapter 5 
  • IATA Ground Operation XML toolkit  

Focus Areas

  • Operations and business processes (passenger handling, baggage handling, ramp handling, load control, aircraft messages, operational oversight and GSE specification, maintenance, and environment)
  • Safety and management (injury and aircraft damage prevention, Safety Management Systems and Quality Management Systems)
  • Digitalization and automation (ramp digitalization and timestamps turnaround, ramp automation, delay codes, digital load control and autonomous ground support equipment)
  • Ground operations audits and quality pools
  • Ground handling contracts and Service Level Agreements (handling services, catering services, training and SLAs)
  • Operations training program (training management, safety and non-operational functions, passenger and ramp handling, load control and GSE maintenance)
  • Development and update of IATA publications, products, and solutions (AHM, IGOM, ISAGO audit checklists, Delay Codes App, Ground Ops XML toolkit).

Designed For

  • GSE providers and manufacturers
  • Airport/ground handling equipment manufacturers – as it pertains to ground handling services (not items such as apron lights, runway markers, hanger doors, aircraft technical equipment, etc.)
  • Airframe manufacturers (for ground handling requirements)
  • Departure Control System (DCS) providers
  • IT and other solution providers in the ground handling field 


Please view the full list of Strategic Partnerships Program benefits (pdf).