Ramp Safety Procedures

General

Safety regulations shall be in place to secure safety of aeroplane, crew, passengers, staff and load. In addition to any local airport safety regulations, the following shall be observed while handling the aeroplane:

• No unauthorized person may enter the ramp or an aeroplane;
• Staff on the ramp shall wear clothing and personal protection appropriate to the weather conditions and handling operations activities;
• The ramp surface shall be checked to avoid accidents, injuries or damage to the aeroplane caused by oil, ice, snow or FOD (foreign object damage);
• Only the marked walkways and traffic routes shall be used according to the local airport regulations.

The Company personnel should always wear reflective safety west while on the ramp.

Ground Support Equipment

Equipment used in aeroplane handling operations shall be suitable for the:

• Aeroplane type and weight;
• Weather and apron surface conditions.

Standard operating procedures shall be followed by drivers (or operators) to ensure:

• Equipment and vehicles shall be positioned and operated in accordance with the authorized operations programme and local safety procedures;
• Unserviceable equipment is clearly identified and removed from operations;
• Personnel do not operate vehicles or equipment while using hand-held portable electronic devices unless a suitable “hands free” capability exists and is utilized;
• Equipment is never moved across the path of taxiing aeroplane or passengers walking between an aeroplane and the terminal;
• If applicable, an equipment restraint line is marked or displayed on the apron;
• Equipment with elevating devices is not driven in the elevated position, except for final positioning at the aeroplane;
• If applicable, equipment is positioned behind the equipment restraint line with parking brakes applied prior to any aeroplane movement (departure and arrival on the apron);
• The parking brake is always applied, with gear selector in park or neutral, when equipment is parked away from or positioned at the aeroplane;
• The passenger loading bridge is in the fully retracted position prior to aeroplane arrival and departure;
• Equipment or vehicles are not moved into hazard areas associated with the aeroplane type;
• Stabilizers, when fitted on equipment, are deployed when equipment is positioned at the aeroplane. 

Safety and Danger Areas

Safety (Buffer) Zone
This is an imaginary line that surrounds the aeroplane 2 (two) meters from the aeroplane surface. The following safety awareness shall be observed at all times:

• Motorised vehicles/equipment shall make a minimum of one complete stop as a brake check prior to entering the operational safety zone or at a distance of no less than 5 metres (15 feet) from the aeroplane and again before reaching the aeroplane side;
• Equipment shall be driven at a walking pace when operating within the operational safety buffer zone.

Engine Intake (Suction) Area
This is the area in which a running engine exerts a dangerous and deadly suction force which can ingest people and objects. This hazard area extends to the front, sides and behind the lip of every engine intake.

Blast Danger Area
This is the area behind the running engines that is impacted by the force of the exhaust blast. The heat and high velocity exhaust winds generated by the engines can cause severe injuries to personnel and can severely damage equipment or facilities.

Ramp Agent shall ensure that engine danger areas:

• Shall never be approached or entered when an engine is running or if it is spooling down;
• Are clear of personnel and equipment before start-up clearance is given.

In The Company these danger areas are defined as:

Aeroplane Arrival

Ramp agent is responsible that only trained, qualified and authorized staff is allowed to:

• Operate mobile ground equipment;
• Approach the aeroplane before it has come to a complete stop at the assigned parking position.

Ground support equipment, including the passenger boarding bridge, is never permitted to move toward an aeroplane unless:

• The aeroplane has come to a complete stop;
• Chocks and cones are positioned;
• Engines are shut down and anti-collision beacons are OFF;
• Ground-to-flight crew communication is established, if applicable.

Note: It may be necessary to place the nose chocks and to connect external power prior the engine shut down (if not forbidden by local regulations). Chocking and connecting the GPU may be performed at the same time.

When, in exceptional cases, one engine shall be kept running (e.g., when no GPU is available) ground equipment shall only approach that side of the aeroplane where engine has been cut.

The Commander and the ground handling staff shall, beforehand, have agreed on the course of action to be followed.

In addition to the general safety rules laid down in OM Part A, Chapter 8.2.3.5, the following shall be observed when equipment devices approach the aeroplane:

• Steps/passenger jetways and catering trucks shall principally be positioned at the aeroplane prior to opening the respective cabin doors;
• When vision is restricted, a second person shall help to ensure safe manoeuvring around the aeroplane;
• Sufficient distance between ground equipment and the aeroplane shall be maintained in order to avoid damage caused by vertical movement of wings/fuselage during unloading/loading/refueling/defueling;
• Equipment should never move across the path of taxiing aeroplanes or of boarding/disembarking passengers;
• Protective rubber bumpers on equipment shall not be compressed against the aeroplane. A small gap of a maximum of 5 cm shall be left between the equipment and the fuselage;
• Fuel hoses and connections shall never be run over by ground equipment. Loading and servicing equipment shall not be positioned or manoeuvred under the wings;
• With the exception of fuel trucks, mobile equipment shall not be positioned within the venting areas during fueling/defueling.

Ground support equipment should be positioned at the aeroplane in the following sequence:

1. Wheel chocks at nose landing gear wheels;
2. Ground Power Unit, if required;
3. Wheel chocks at main landing gear wheels after engines have been shut down and anti-collision light has been switched OFF;
4. Passenger steps or passenger loading bridges;
5. Loading and servicing equipment;
6. Fuel truck.