Ground operations cover all ground-based functions other than engineering. This includes:
- passenger handling
- aircraft loading
- catering
- freight.
You must audit ground operations regularly and describe them in your Safety Management System (SMS). Regulation 119.190 of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) outlines the requirements for safety management system (SMS).
Operational procedures
You must describe each plan, process, procedure, program, and system used to meet regulations in your exposition. Subpart 119.H of CASR outlines what you must include.
You must give the exposition to all staff, and they must follow its contents.
Staff training
Under Subpart 119.E of CASR, you must train and check all operational safety-critical staff in the functions of their role. Operational safety-critical staff is any member of staff that carries out, or is responsible for, safety-related work.
You must detail the functions of operational safety-critical roles in your exposition or operations manual. Such functions include:
- passenger check-in and boarding
- loading and unloading of aircraft
- acceptance or preparation of cargo for transport
- aircraft fuelling
- preparing loading documents
- anyone, other than a pilot, who calculates an aircraft’s weight and balance
- people responsible for rosters and scheduling
- anyone that manages any of these roles.
We outline acceptable means of complying with training and checking in Subpart 119.E of Part 119 Australian air transport operators – certification and management AMC-GM.
Loading system
All aircraft, except balloons, must have a loading system under Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 100.7.
The exception is when you can show you can't load an aircraft so its centre of gravity falls outside the approved range while applying compartment load limits.
For an aircraft that has a loading system, the operator and the pilot-in-command must make sure the aircraft is loaded in accordance with that system. It also must be for the duration of the flight.
As outlined in regulations 91.585 and 91.590 of CASR, onboard an aircraft, you must correctly restrain and stow all:
- cargo
- checked baggage
- carry-on baggage
You must use restraints and stowage locations designed and approved for this purpose as detailed in Part 21 of CASR. This is to protect the aircraft's occupants from injury and components from damage under all normal flight forces and loads.
Audited areas of ground operations
You must regularly audit the functions outlined in the previous sections on this page and also include:
- ramp, passenger check-in, and freight facility staff
- ground operations office staff involved in the development of:
- your exposition and operations manual
- procedures
- training
- investigations
- rosters
- management staff with ground operations safety responsibilities.
Ground operations tasks
CASA ground operations inspectors make sure all ground-based functions meet safety standards.
They work with operators and flight crew to review a range of functions and processes.
Ground operations cover all ground-based functions other than engineering. This can include:
- passenger handling
- aircraft marshalling
- loading and unloading
- catering
- freight
- connecting ground power units
- driving and positioning ground support equipment (GSE)
- refilling potable water
- servicing aircraft toilets
- aircraft fuelling
- push back and/or tow of aircraft.
What ground operations inspectors do
Our inspectors make sure you carry out these functions in line with the regulations and your approved procedures.
Our inspectors also assess your:
- manuals and procedures and the control of these documents. This includes ensuring staff follow your exposition (manuals) for all ground handling activities
- training policies, facilities and record keeping
- audit and compliance programs and compliance to the safety management system
- load control procedures, loading system, communications for aircraft loading, and weight and balance documents
- check-in and boarding of passengers
- passenger safety while embarking and disembarking
- GSE maintenance, operator training, and operation. Including driver behaviour and adherence to the circle of safety around aircraft.