april2023 - 28

Ground Service Providers
Within Chapter 9
of the IATA Airport
Handling Manual
(AHM), are GSE
specifications.
Complementing other
design standards
by focusing more
on performance and
requirement criteria,
these standards are
widely used in the
GSE procurement
process and set
the minimum
requirements for
aspects such as
safety and damage
prevention systems
for a wide range of
GSE.
their time and work and in return, they
expect full support from our team, and
we cannot disappoint them. "
The GAD has established
four sub-groups:
* Load Control and Aircraft Messages
* GSE (autonomous, green,
management)
* Digital Ramp
* Delay Codes
Similar to the GOS, the GAD consists
of airlines, ground handlers and manufacturer
subject matter experts. The GAD
takes care of the updates of the aircraft
messages and load control in the AHM
and IGOM. Baggage standards are developed
by the BWG and the BSG. Industry
experts with subject matter knowledge
on the different baggage operational
areas work toward developing common
standards and best practices for an efficient
and cost-effective baggage handling
process. The BSG plays a more strategic
role in defining the work plan and priorities
of the baggage working group,
while the BWG ensures the delivery of
the actual work plans by its various sub
working groups reporting to it.
The Process for
Creating Standards
The objectives for creating IATA standards
come from multiple parties.
The ground ops objectives come
from various sources, while IATA's stra28
|| Ground Support Worldwide || April 2023
tegic objectives come from its Board
of Governors.
" Strategic objectives for ground ops
are shaped by the Ground Operations
Group (GOG), which reports to the Operations
Advisory Council and provides
to IATA management where we should
focus via IATA initiatives, standards or
advocacy, " Pluhackova says. " GOS, GAD,
BWG, BSG are providing input to the
standards development, we are doing an
analysis of the data available in the IATA
Accident Database (IDX) for the most
frequent and serious aircraft damages,
loading errors and injuries.
" We have also started to have some
data in the IGOM portal, specifically
the IGOM provisions, where is the most
airlines variations, and we will analyze
them and prepare the plan how to reduce
them, " she continues. " And last but not
least, and of the most valuable feedback
is directly for our manuals' users. "
Once input from ground handling-focused
working groups is gathered, it
factors into IATA's process for developing
standards.
" Objectives, input, all submissions are
reviewed by IATA secretaries, who create
the work plan, " Pluhackova says. " This is
then reviewed and agreed by the ground
ops groups, and groups work on the
standards development or updates during
the year. The expert groups work on
the amendments, proposed changes are
open to the various IATA groups based
on the topic, comments are reviewed and
addressed if relevant. "
The final draft is then voted as per
IATA governance, and finalized updates
are then handed in for publication.
" It is fairly cumbersome process as
we produce four manuals in printed and
digital versions, including French and
Spanish versions for the IGOM, " Pluhackova
says, noting production of the manuals
take on average 3 months each.
The working groups have two-year
mandates. IATA called for nominations
in February for tenure 2023-2025, and
groups started work in March. GOS/GAD
groups are open to IATA members and
IATA ground handling partners and strategic
partners for the ground ops area.
BSG/BWG is open to IATA members and
strategic partners for baggage area.
" We also cooperate with the industry
organizations such as Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE), Airport Council
International (ACI), Airport Services
Association (ASA), ISO and others, " Pluhackova
adds.
" As we start our groups' work, there
might be need for a specific interest and
we will approach our industry to fill
the gaps. We always need more airlines
to participate in Ground Ops Automation
and Digitalization. We want to
know what our members are doing in
these areas. "
IATA
april2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of april2023
