Views sought over proposed changes to airport ground handling policy

Public consultation open until 16 February

Members of the public are being consulted over proposed changes to the ground handling policy in place at Ronaldsway Airport.

The Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration, a division of the Department for Enterprise, has launched a consultation in its role as the aviation safety and security regulator.

It's responsible for ensuring the Island’s aviation regulation meets international standards.

It wants to 'establish the Isle of Man’s scope of and criteria for the safety oversight of ground handling services'; 'establish the baseline aviation safety standards for those services', 'promote the use of scalable management systems proportionate to the size and complexity of the operation' and 'acknowledge the continued use of current industry standards'.

Ground handling services are necessary for an aircraft’s arrival at, and departure from, an airport, other than air traffic control. 

Organisations dealing with passengers, baggage, cargo or mail - as well as those providing aircraft services such refuelling - have been encouraged to respond.

The proposals include the introduction of a safety management system and ground handling service manual.

The consultation states that 'until recently the international civil aviation safety regulatory system has not included the direct regulation of those services. 

'However, the need for that regulation has been identified by the ICAO as well as by regional and state aviation safety regulatory bodies, including the European Aviation Safety Agency and the UK Civil Aviation Authority.'

It has been proposed that the policy would come into effect three months after being published.

You can find the draft policy here and can take part in the consultation here.