IATA

Translations

L’IATA réclame une transition pour améliorer le matériel de servitude au sol (pdf) 国际航协呼吁增强地面保障系统 (pdf)IATA pede transição para equipamentos de suporte terrestre avançados (pdf)IATA pide la transición hacia equipos de asistencia en tierra de última generación (pdf)الاتحاد الدولي للنقل الجوي يدعو إلى اعتماد معدات الدعم الأرضي المحسنة (pdf)

Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for a transition to enhanced ground support equipment (Enhanced GSE) to improve safety and contain the cost of ground damage involving GSE. Enhanced GSE uses anti-collision and inching technology, improves vehicle control, and increases docking accuracy, all of which minimizes the risk of personnel injuries and damaging aircraft.

New IATA Report: IATA Ground Damage Report: The Case for Enhanced Ground Support Equipment

The call for transition to Enhanced GSE is detailed in a newly published IATA study which estimates that the annual cost of ground damage could double to nearly $10 billion by 2035 unless preventive action is taken. The cost of ground damage forecast is based on direct costs (including labor and material costs, temporary leasing costs, logistical expenses, and administrative costs) and indirect costs (lost revenue, crew and passenger repositioning costs, compensation costs for delayed services etc.). The study finds:

“Transitioning to Enhanced GSE with anti-collision technology is a no-brainer. We have proven technology that can improve safety. And with the cost of ground damage growing across the industry there is a clear business case supporting early adoption. The challenge now is to put together a roadmap so that all stakeholders are aligned on a transition plan,” said Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President Operations, Safety and Security.

Along with reducing the cost of ground damage, the transition to Enhanced GSE will also support the industry’s commitment to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 as most new equipment is electrically powered.

“Most Enhanced GSE is electrically powered, making it cleaner and more energy efficient. While the main focus of aviation’s decarbonization efforts is on how we power aircraft, what happens on the ground cannot be ignored. The transition to Enhanced GSE will contribute to our industry’s top priorities of safety and sustainability,” said Careen.

IATA will work with industry partners to implement strategies, goals, and programs to drive adoption of Enhanced GSE. The IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM) already advises the design and use of GSE anti-collision systems (Enhanced GSE) as a best practice, with many airlines, and ground handlers seeing the first benefits.

Global standards have always played a role in aviation’s commitment to safety. The IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) has seen renewed interest among airlines with 55 airlines signing up for the ISAGO report-audit data sharing scheme in 2022. Based on the IATA AHM, ISAGO already provides the auditable framework for safe ground operations, and it is continuously updated as technology evolves—including the soon to be introduced integration of Enhanced GSE into operations.

Additional recommendations for the transition include:

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications Tel: +41 22 770 2967 Email: [email protected]

Notes for Editors: