Aviation360 MEA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) in India, on Wednesday, has issued a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) prescribing the framework for safe operations by ground handling service providers (GHSPs).

The framework includes the compulsory safety clearance requirement, as part of efforts to ensure s afe ground operations amid rising air traffic. The norms also come against the backdrop of ground incidents at some airports that have resulted in damage to aircraft.

The Ground Handling Agencies (GHAs) have been given a time frame of six months to comply with the provisions issued by DCGA. 

The robust safety mechanism to be implemented prospectively by the GHSPs would help in the prevention and mitigation of ground incidents at the airport, thereby enhancing the quality of services rendered in safety-sensitive functions.

The report further said that GHA’s are a critical element of the airport aviation ecosystem. The safety, efficiency and reliability of flight operations, in turn, are dependent on the safe and efficacious functioning of GHA’s.

Taking into account the phenomenal growth of aircraft movements, the corresponding increase in complexity of ground operations and the proliferation of third-party ground handling services, it has become imperative to establish safety standards for ground handling service providers (GHSPs) involved in the ground operations of aircraft at Indian airports, an area that has not been hitherto uncovered under any existing regulations.

The implementation of this CAR will standardise the requirements across the GHA’s and strengthen the oversight mechanism. This CAR also specifies the training and competency requirements of ground personnel who play a pivotal role in safe and efficient ground operations at airports.

Source: ANI