Introduction

1. Introduction to Airport Airside Careers
WILLIAM MWANZA

2. Objectives
- Understanding airport set-up and discuss types of airports
- Discuss the interactions between airlines and GHS providers
- Discuss the services provided on the airside
- Discuss entry level airside careers
- Summary

3. General Overview of an Airport
• An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for
commercial air transport.
• Aerodrome means an airport or airfield or a defined area on land
or water intended to be used for the arrival, departure and surface
movement of aircraft.
• So basically, airports consists of a landing area known as the
runway for planes to land and take off, a taxiway which is a route
along which an aircraft can taxi when moving to or from a runway.

4. Airport overview conti….
• Airports also are built will air traffic control centers to maintain
and control aircraft movements. Also it has terminal building with
facilities such as restaurants and lounges for passengers.
• Another feature that distinguishes an airport is the presence of an
area or a tarmac known as the ramp/apron – this where aircrafts
are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, pax boarding or
disembarking or maintained- line maintenance works.
• Aprons are not usually open to the general public, one need a
security identification card or a permit to gain access, if you are a
passenger, you need a boarding pass ( ticket) to access it.

5. Airport overview

6. Types of Airports
• Airstrip
• Water aerodrome
• Air base
• Heliport
• Domestic airport
• International airport

7. Airline/ GHS Provider Relationship
• Airport operations – customer/consumer relationship based on service
level agreements (SLA) signed
• SLAs - defined services that should be offered at minimum service standard
i.e. Precision Time Schedule (PTS), personnel, equipment, Key performance
indicators (KPIs)
• Ground Service provider are benefitting / contracting airline(s)
- The term aircraft ground handling defines the servicing of an aircraft while
it is on the ground and parked at bay or terminal gate of an airport.
- Several different ground service providers at an airport
- Several different departments within a ground service provider
• Several different airline offices within the airport

8. Ramp Services/ SLA Services
-Marshalling – visual communication between ground personnel and
pilots in order to lead an aircraft to correct parking bay/gate
-Chock on/off of the aircraft
-Communications (headset)/ technical service – flow of information
-Unloading/loading – high loader, belt loader, cobus, pax stairs,
-Transportation of bags, pax, cargo, crew
-Engine start-up support Tow/push-back ➔ qualification of technician-
LAME/ GSE operator
-Aircraft maintenance – AMEs – snag rectification, minor repairs
-Unloading/loading catering / cabin supplies
- Aircraft/cabin cleaning Pre-conditioned air
-Fueling of aircraft
- Fresh water/Waste services
-Ground power/ Air starter unit

9. Ramp Services

10. Entry level airport airside careers
• Air Traffic Controller - ATC
• Customer Services Agent- CSAs
• Safety Officer
• Aviation Security Officer
• Ramp Agent/Baggage Handler/Fleet Service Assistant
• Aircraft Marshaller
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer- AMEs
• Load Controller/Flight Dispatcher
• Aircraft Turnaround Coordinator - TRCs
• Ground Equipment Operator
• Fire and Rescue Officer

11. Summary
• General airport overview
• Types of airports
• Airline and GHS Provider – SLAs agreement
• Ramp services
• Entry level airport airside careers

12. Questions and contributions