Aircraft Turnaround and Ramp Safety Procedure

Purpose. This procedure describes how the ramp team receives, turns around and dispatches an aircraft safely, from marshalling on arrival to the final walk-around before pushback or taxi.

1.Before the aircraft arrives

The ramp team leader confirms the bay, the arrival time and the load plan from the dispatch record, checks that the bay is clear of foreign object debris and equipment, positions chocks, cones and ground support equipment behind the equipment restraint line and briefs the team on the turnaround plan. Every team member must wear a high visibility vest, hearing protection and safety footwear airside.

2.Marshalling and arrival

The marshaller stands where the flight crew can see them, uses the standard marshalling signals with wands, and stops the aircraft on the bay markings. Nobody approaches the aircraft until the anti-collision beacon is off and the engines have spooled down. Chocks are placed at the main wheels and the marshaller signals chocks in to the crew.

3.Ground support equipment

Equipment must be inspected before use and the inspection tag checked against the Ground Support Equipment Register. Equipment approaches the aircraft at walking pace, with a guide person for reversing, and stops short of the aircraft before the final positioning. Equipment must never be driven under the wing or the propeller arc.

• Check the pre-use inspection tag
• Walking pace within the equipment restraint area
• Guide person for every reversing movement
• Stop, then creep to final position
• Stabilisers down and brakes on before use

4.Unloading and loading

Holds are opened only after chocks are in. Baggage and freight are unloaded to the tug in the order on the load plan. Loading follows the load sheet compartment by compartment, with nets and straps secured and dangerous goods placed as the acceptance checklist and the load plan require. Any change to the planned load must be reported to the dispatch officer before the load sheet is finalised.

5.Refuelling

Refuelling is coordinated by the ramp team leader with the fuel contractor. No passengers board or disembark during refuelling unless the operations manual conditions for refuelling with passengers on board are met and the cabin crew are briefed. Fire equipment is positioned and the bonding lead is attached before fuel flows.

6.Departure

The team leader completes the final walk-around checking doors, hatches, pitot covers, chocks and foreign object debris, confirms the load sheet is delivered to the crew, removes chocks on the crew's signal and marshals the aircraft off the bay. The turnaround time is recorded in the dispatch record.

7.Ground damage

Any contact between equipment and an aircraft, however minor, must be reported to the crew and the team leader immediately, the aircraft must not depart until an engineer inspects it, and a safety occurrence report must be lodged before the end of the shift.