Dele Ore
5 November 2009
document
Although it is assumed that all operators and officials operating on the ramp are trained according to ICAO Standards and licensed, there are in our airports, inherent difficulties which pose serious challenges that affect ramp safety, such as:-
(i) Getting all ramp safety managers and ramp workers in various organisations to obey safety rules and regulations,
They are:
(ii) In-adequate staff training:-
The Ramp safety mangers and ramp workers identified above are expected to be properly trained at ICAO recognized facilities and appropriate security clearance and identity cards that guarantee their access to the ramp. It is of utmost significance that all airside drivers receive prerequisite training on movement area rules, regulations and air-law relating to rights of way between vehicles and aircraft.
(iii) Getting all relevant organizations to obtain insurance policies on all vehicles, plants and personnel working on the ramp.
(iv) Securing the ramp and eliminating cases of robbery and unauthorized entries is a pre-requisite for safety of passengers, cargo, aircraft and airport installations.
Obligations on ramp safety
The international Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annexes 14 and 17 Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and various manuals related to these annexes clearly mandate member states to take necessary measures to ensure safety and security of aircraft, passenger, cargo and airport installations etc. Besides ICAO, FAAN is also a member of the Airports Council International (ACI). In 1997, the seventh ACI Annual World Assembly adopted Resolution 2 "Safety at airports" All ACI member airports, while affirming that safe operations of airports are vital to the business and image of airport operators, resolves to:
(i) Re - emphasize the commitment of their staff to safety and the reporting of safety- related incidents or accidents and to improve their participation in the annual Apron Safety Survey.
(ii) Call upon airlines, Handling companies and any other entities working on the apron to play their full part in reporting incidents and accident immediately to the airport operator, and to ensure that they report incidents which occur on apron area over which they have operational control.
(iii) Call upon civil aviation administrations and regulatory bodies to introduce mandatory immediate reporting to the airport operator of all incidents and accidents occurring on the movement area.
Despite all measures outlined above, there is the need to further formulate and implement new policies to enhance ramp safety at all airports. However the way forward should encompass the following:
Aviobridges
Apron flood lighting .
Apron pavements, markings and signs
Apron service road markings and signs
Fuel hydrants
Evolve new measures to ensure control of issuance of Vehicle Apron Pass and that such vehicles are:
Serviceable
Equipped with two-way radio and standard amber light
Carry valid insurance and Vehicle licence
Carry the airport special number of airside operational vehicles
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