Aviation Security and Ground Handling by Dr.Sanat kaul

Aviation Security and Ground Handling by Dr.Sanat kaul

In a major security lapse, YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was stabbed by a man inside the Vishakhapatnam airport’s VIP lounge in October 2018. According to data tabled in the Parliament on August 8, 2018, 27 security lapses were reported to Bureau of Civil Aviation over the last three years. Needless to say, the need for well-fortified airports arises from lessons learnt over the years from within the country and abroad.

The Ministries of Civil Aviation and Home Affairs dread a security lapse similar to 9/11 which occurred in USA despite the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) warning them on their poor security in their domestic aviation sector. All flights which were hijacked and used as a weapon were domestic flights. In India, the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu and landing in Amritsar on the last day of the millennium was our country’s last major aviation security lapse. Since then security has been beefed up worldwide including India. Ever since Central Industrial Security Force has been introduced as airport security force in place of State Police, the security levels at our major airports have improved. However, instances of smuggling of currencies and gold at major airports in the country are being consistently reported. Some of these cases involving airport staff as accomplices signal the need to ensure security compliances among sub-units functioning at airports. One of the major activities that has a bearing on aviation security is Ground Handling (GH) as it involves a large number of workers both skilled and unskilled to enter airport and aircrafts for cleaning, cargo and baggage handling and similar functions

GH as defined by the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s (MoCA) notification of 25th October, 2018 includes ramp handling, traffic handling and other activities as specified by the Ministry. Airlines want this activity to be done very quickly and cheaply for a better turn around. According to sources, an investment of USD 6-7 million is needed at each airport for GH quality equipment as the same notification has stated that all equipment should be ‘state of art equipment and best practices in line with IATA Airport Handling Equipment’. Skilled and semi-skilled workers are needed to complete the various tasks in record time so that the aircraft can take off again quickly. This is most important for Low Cost Carriers who now carry bulk of the domestic passengers. Quick and quality ground handling is important for not just airlines and airports due to efficiency and passenger comfort considerations but also for the government and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) from a safety and security perspective.

 Global aviation bodies such as ICAO, IATA and Airports Council International are working on model guidelines on Ground Handling as they feel that GH is a complex web of activities which need strong safety and security oversight. According to them, GH activities need a proper legal framework with licensing and certification along with a safety management system with responsibility and liability allocated to airport operator, aircraft operator and GH service provider. The National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 has correctly stated that ‘each airport will ensure that there will be three Ground Handling Agencies and has said it will include one of Air India or its subsidiary/ joint venture (till it remains a public sector entity), one of the airport operator and one more to be selected by the airport operator in major airports having more than 1.5 million passengers per annum. All these operators will come under Airport Economic Regulation Authority (AERA) to ensure fair pricing. However, it has also allowed all domestic schedule airlines to do selfhandling at all airports provided they do not use contract labour which is the current practice. This policy has been extended recently to Foreign Airlines also. This has been done because use of contract labour is a security hazard as each worker has to be security cleared by BCAS. Multiple agencies working inside a sterile environment like the airport is riddled with associated risks. Usage of non-qualified and uncertified agencies lead to unfair labour practices often resulting in higher staff turnover which poses security challenges

This issue of hiring non-bonafide contract labour for ground handling has been a major source of friction between airlines and the Ministry. A MoCA notification in December 2017 had given a lead time of 8 months to airlines to dispense with non-certified labour contractors being availed for ground handling services. However, as per the latest notification by Airports Authority of India, the deadline has again been extended till 30th June, 2019. With delay in implementation of the policy, security is being compromised on a daily basis. Moreover, while security is a major concern for all airports, it is more so for India looking into the overall security scenario in the country. Acting under pressure of Airlines for ‘Self-Handling’ , now extended to foreign airlines also, increases India aviation security vulnerability. There is a need for the Ministry of Civil Aviation to review its policy towards self-handling as this practice is not available in most countries- especially the recent extension to foreign airlines. Will it take another disaster for us to learn that security is paramount?

Dr Sanat Kaul is Chairman of International Foundation for Aviation, Aerospace and Development. He was formerly India’s Representative to ICAO