ACI Airside Safety Handbook

Third edition 2006

(revised 2009)
Authors:
ACI World Operational Safety Sub-committee
ACI Airside Safety Handbook

AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL

Third edition 2006

revised 2009

ACI AIRSIDE SAFETY HANDBOOK

PUBLISHED BY ACI WORLD • GENEVA • SWITZERLAND

Authors:
ACI World Operational Safety Sub-committee
DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this publication is subject to constant change in the light of
changing requirements and regulations. No subscriber or other reader should act on the basis of
any such information without referring to applicable laws and regulations and/or without taking
appropriate professional advice. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy,
Airports Council International (ACI) shall not be held responsible for loss or damage caused
by errors, omissions, misprints or misinterpretation of the contents hereof. Furthermore ACI
expressly disclaims all and any liability to any person, whether a purchaser of this publication or
not, in respect of anything done or omitted, and the consequences of anything done or omitted,
by any such person through reliance on the contents of this publication.

No part of the Airside Safety Handbook may be reproduced, recast, reformatted or transmitted
in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or use of
any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from:

Director, Safety/Technical
Airports Council International
P.O. Box 16
1215 Geneva 15 - Airport
Switzerland

Copies of this publication

are available from:

Publications Department
Airports Council International
P.O. Box 16
1215 Geneva 15 Airport
Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 717 8585
Fax. +41 22 717 8888
Email: aci@aci.aero ©2009 Airports Council International
Web: www.aci.aero All rights reserved

Disclaimer
 ACI Airside Safety Handbook

CONTENTS

Foreword
Introduction

Chapter 1
8 Safety Management
8 1.1 Safety Management Systems (SMS)
11 1.2 Risk Assessment and Control
13 1.3 Workplace Health & Safety
14 1.4 Staff Competencies, Training Requirements and Competency Checks
15 1.5 Airside Inspections and Audits
15 1.6 Asset Management – Fault Reporting and Rectification
17 1.7 Fault Reporting
17 1.8 Airside Driving, Training and Use of Radio Telephony (RT)
25 1.9 Operation of Vehicles Airside
26 1.10 Airside Vehicle Permits
26 1.11 Airside Construction Works
28 1.12 FOD Prevention
29 1.13 Adverse Weather Operations
33 1.14 Promulgation of Information, Local Airport Instructions to Users
34 1.15 Emergency and Contingency Planning
35 1.16 Airside Security

Chapter 2
36 Apron Safety
36 2.1 Apron Layout and Markings
36 2.2 Apron Installations
38 2.3 Aircraft Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS)
38 2.4 Operation of Air Bridges
39 2.5 Airside Road Markings and Signs
40 2.6 Apron Control and Stand Allocation
40 2.7 Apron Cleanliness
41 2.8 Aircraft Fuelling
44 2.9 Spillage Procedures
44 2.10 Aircraft Marshalling
45 2.11 Aircraft Turnaround Process and Audits
46 2.12 Accident, Incident and Near-miss Reporting
47 2.13 Accident, Incident and Near-miss Investigation and Analysis
49 2.14 Passenger Evacuation Procedures
49 2.15 Hazardous Materials
50 2.16 Emergency Equipment
 Contents
 CONTENTS

Chapter 3
51 Airside Safety
51 3.1 Airside Inspections
56 3.2 Protection of Navigation Aids (NAVAIDS)
57 3.3 Prevention of Runway Incursions
57 3.4 Runway Friction Measurement
58 3.5 Aerodrome Safeguarding
59 3.6 Wildlife Hazards
60 3.7 Airside Safety Committee
61 3.8 Airside Safety Promotion
61 3.9 Interface with Stakeholders
62 3.10 Engine Run-Ups
63 3.11 Helicopter Operations
63 3.12 Special Flights
64 3.13 Aircraft Recovery

Chapter 4
66 Annexes

Chapter 5
78 Useful Documents

Chapter 6
79 Useful Websites

Chapter 7
80 Abbreviations Index

Contents 
 ACI Airside Safety Handbook

FOREWORD

Safety is top priority for the air transport industry.

ACI is proud to present the revised Airside Safety Handbook. This is a reprint with corrections to
the third edition and the updated and expanded version of the previous Apron Safety Handbook
(2nd edition, 1996), extended to cover the whole Movement Area, not just Aprons. A fully revised
fourth edition is in preparation for publication in 2010. Most of the material it contains has been
distilled from excellent guidance material available from several large Civil Aviation Authorities
around the world, ACI Member Airport operating and safety procedures, and ICAO material. The
content of the handbook also builds upon the existing guidance in the ACI Policy Handbook. While
remaining short and succinct, it provides checklists for action, as well as an explanation of risks to
be assessed and means of mitigation available. As stated in the text, local risk assessments are
inevitably necessary to the safe operation of an aerodrome.

The subject of airside safety is of great importance to Airport Operators who want to avoid or
mitigate all foreseeable risks of accidents occurring - there are also important liability issues in
case of an accident. These risks and issues have been discussed many times at ACI conferences
and committee meetings - therefore, ACI feels that it has the responsibility to put forward a
guide to best practice, to assist its members. It forms part of a coordinated approach to Safety
Management Systems, which ACI recommends to its members. It complements the Aerodrome
Bird Hazard Prevention and Wildlife Management Handbook (first edition, published 2005) and
the Apron Markings and Signs Handbook (second edition, published 2009).

ACI would like to acknowledge the members of the ACI Operational Safety Sub-committee who
have contributed to, reviewed and edited the contents.

Angela Gittens
Director General

 Foreword
INTRODUCTION

This handbook has been produced to provide airside managers with a comprehensive, though
not complete set of guidelines to enhance safety and prevent accidents and incidents at their
aerodromes. Material has been provided by major aerodromes participating in ACI World
Operational Safety Sub-committee and has been summarised to produce a concise document.
The aim has been to produce a current “best practice” guidance document without being
overly detailed – further details are available from the useful documents and websites listed
in Sections 5 and 6.

This handbook is a guide to airside safety. It is written for airside managers and builds on
previous work by ACI – namely the Apron Safety Handbook. The remit of this handbook has
been widened to include a number of selected topics relating to safe operations in airside
areas.

Aviation throughout the world continues to grow, aerodromes become busier and more
congested and the number of flights and the size of aircraft increase. The requirement for an
aerodrome operator is to facilitate this growth in a safe environment for airport users, staff
and aircraft.

Various bodies have produced both regulations and guidance covering a number of aspects
of airside safety, both nationally and internationally, including from within the industry. This
handbook is intended to complement such material by offering guidance in areas perhaps not
covered in sufficient detail. It updates and brings together the best elements of managing
airside safety from current experience of those involved in this important task from aerodromes
around the world. The aim has been to keep the contents brief yet relevant.

Introduction 
 ACI Airside Safety Handbook

CHAPTER 1
Safety Management
1.1 Safety Management Systems (SMS)

1.1.1 Policy
An aerodrome should have a formally adopted safety policy or safety objective
endorsed by the Chief Executive or Chairman of the Board to confirm senior
management commitment.

This safety policy should clearly state its objective, and provide a timeframe and a
detailed plan (processes) It should also define a strategy to implement the company’s
workplace health and safety policy. The policy should incorporate measures to assess
and control (eliminate or reduce) the hazards associated with business. A general
policy should include but not be limited to measures that will:
• Protect employees
• Assess all risks to health and safety caused by business
• Provide adequate hazard controls for affected parties (including customers,
third parties, etc.) whether safety or health related
• Encourage consultation with employees and the airside community
• Provide and maintain equipment
• Provide suitable instruction, training and other information
• Eliminate or reduce accidents, incidents and near-misses

The policy will need to be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the changing
safety and hazard requirements of the business are always met.

The responsibility for the implementation of an SMS lies with all line managers and
employees. Organisations may also have a specifically designated safety manager
who monitors and assists in the implementation and audits compliance.

1.1.2 Personnel
Personnel should be given ongoing training in all tasks they can reasonably be
expected to carry out to ensure a high level of proficiency. Staff should demonstrate
their continuing ability to carry out the tasks required of them and this should be
recorded for the term of employment by the organisation (see Section 1.4 – Staff
Competencies, Training Requirements and Competency Checks).

1.1.3 Processes
Processes should be in place to accomplish the organisation’s safety policy objectives.
These cover a wide spectrum of activities – from aerodrome duty teams to the review
of overall airside safety trends – and form a key part of the Aerodrome Manual.

 Chapter 1
 ACI World
PO Box 16
1215 Geneva 15 - Airport
Switzerland

ACI Airside Safety Handbook

Pricing: ACI Members € 75, Non-members €150
Alternatively this publication can be ordered online through our website: www.aci.aero
Name .......................................................................................................................................................................
Organisation ............................................................................................................................................................
Full Address .............................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Telephone number ...................................................................................................................................................
E-mail .......................................................................................................................................................................
Fax ............................................................................................................................................................................

Payments are to be made in Euros. Pre-payment of orders is requested.
Prices include handling and shipping by REGULAR MAIL.
Upon request, publications may be dispatched by priority mail or courier service at additional cost.

Purchasers in Switzerland will be invoiced in Euro + VAT

ACI VAT number is 320 317

Bank transfer:
UBS, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Account no: 240-202 942.76K
BAN: CH76 0024 0240 2029 4276 K
BIC/SWIFT:UBSWCHZH12A

Credit card payment :

VISA | MasterCard | American Express
Name of card holder ............................................................................................
Card number ........................................................................................................
Authorisation code ..............................................................................................
Expiry date ...........................................................................................................
Signature .............................................................................................................

Please return order form to:

ACI World Office, PO Box 16, 1215 Geneva 15 – Airport, Switzerland
Fax:+41 (0)22 717 88 88 · Tel:+41 (0)22 717 85 85