How Airside Safety Training Can Help Enhance Airport Operational Efficiency

Airside safety is a crucial consideration for any airport. It not only enables smooth and efficient operations; it is also vital for compliance. Accidents and incidents on the airside can have cascading effects on airport operations, disrupting flight schedules and resulting in costly delays.

Airside safety training plays a vital role in this context by minimising the risks associated with ground operations. Training equips employees with the knowledge and skills to identify and mitigate risks, ultimately leading to fewer disruptions and smoother operations.

In this blog post, we will explore why airside safety training is important, the financial and operational benefits it brings, and the components of an effective safety training programme. We will also provide options for you to enhance your knowledge with a professional certification.

Let’s dive in.

Why is comprehensive safety training necessary?

One of the main reasons why comprehensive training is necessary for airside safety is the risks associated with typical airside operations. Some of the most common risks that can affect operational efficiency are:

    • Vehicle collisions
      Accidents involving ground vehicles and aircraft can cause serious damage and disrupt day-to-day operations.
    • FOD damage
      Foreign object debris (FOD) includes loose objects like tools and runway cones that can be ingested by aircraft engines, causing damage and flight delays.
    • Bird strikes
      This is a serious problem at airports, as collisions have the potential to cause significant damage to engines and lead to delays.
    • Runway incursions
      Unauthorised vehicles or personnel entering a runway create critical safety hazards and can lead to significant delays.

The financial impact of these incidents can be substantial. A 2008 study by Insight SRI found that indirect costs associated with FOD and bird strikes, such as delays and cancellations, often outweigh the direct repair costs by 10 to 13 times.

The same researchers found in a 2010 study that the average cost of FOD damage per 10,000 aircraft movements was $32,333. Nearly 80% of this cost was attributed to engine strikes. This highlights the critical importance of preventing these types of incidents that can affect airside safety.

Effective airside safety training programmes can help address these threats by fostering a knowledgeable and skilled workforce that can identify these risks, follow operational procedures to counteract them and maintain operations without major disruptions.

What are the financial and operational benefits of safety training?

Safety training for airside operations can offer many benefits, both in terms of operational efficiencies and financial gains. Here are some of the most impactful financial and operational benefits airports can gain by implementing effective safety training programmes:

Reduced costs
Training contributes to reducing the potential for collisions, FOD damage, and runway incursions, significantly lowering associated repair costs and minimising delays. It also lowers the risk of lawsuits and liability claims, further reducing the potential for unforeseen costs.

Improved compliance
Ensuring that the internal workforce is well-trained and aware of potential risks that can affect airport operations helps meet regulatory requirements set forth for airport safety, minimising compliance risks.

Enhanced efficiency
Well-trained staff result in fewer accidents and incidents, reducing delays and leading to smoother operations and increased capacity on the ground.

Positive reputation
A focus on safety fosters a culture of risk management. This contributes to the development of a positive reputation.

A prime example of these benefits comes from Luton Airport in the UK. They implemented a comprehensive safety training programme that included classroom instruction, technology integration, and continuous monitoring. It impacted over 150 organisations, 2,500 drivers, and 1,400 vehicles. With these initiatives, Luton Airport saw a marked reduction in airside driving incidents, leading to safer and more efficient ground operations.

What are the key components of effective airside safety training?

An effective safety training programme must cover several aspects to ensure that the participants can gain the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure a higher standard of safety for airside operations.

Here are the key components that must be included in a comprehensive training programme for airside safety:

    • Addressing regulatory requirements
      Effective training programmes must cover relevant safety regulations and best practices established by international aviation authorities. This ensures that participants are aware of the latest industry standards and regulatory requirements for airside safety.
    • Incorporating hazard identification and risk assessment
      This allows training participants to gain the knowledge and skills to identify potential hazards on the airside and assess the associated risks, which supports effective risk management through proactive practices.
    • Encouraging safe work practices
      Airside operations can be risky, and training emphasises safe procedures for ground handling, aircraft towing, de-icing, and other airside operations.
    • Enhancing emergency response procedures
      Training allows participants to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies like accidents, incidents, and medical emergencies on the airside.
    • Developing clear communication protocols
      Training allows employees to establish clear and concise communication protocols. This is vital for safe and efficient airport operations. It covers proper communication procedures between airside personnel, air traffic control, and other stakeholders, improving efficiency and safety management capabilities.

In terms of training programmes, Airports Council International (ACI) provides safety training for airport operators and aviation executives to ensure safe airport operations for both customers and employees.

Get comprehensive airside safety training to contribute to efficient airport operations

Airside safety is a crucial consideration for efficient airport operations. It not only helps address common airside risks like vehicle collisions, FOD damage, bird strikes, and runway incursions, but it also helps reduce costs, improve compliance, enhance efficiency, and build a positive, safety-focused reputation.

If you are a graduate looking to enter the field of airport activities, a new airside employee seeking initial safety training as part of your induction process, a current employee wanting to enhance your advancement opportunities into leadership and management, or a World Business Partner looking to gain a better understanding of airside operations, the Certificate in Airside Operations is one of the best airside operations courses you can enrol in.

The Certificate in Airside Operations allows participants to develop an understanding of the various components of airside operations and how these components interact with each other to form an operational system.

Whether you’re looking to enter the workforce or enhance your career prospects, this will be a great starting point for you.

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