IMPORTANCE OF UTMOST PROFESSIONALISM WHILST UNDERTAKING GROUND HANDLING OF AIRCRAFTS

A recent accident at Chennai Airport has revealed that on 03 August 2012, a freighter aircraft of Qatar Airways, on completion of its loading / unloading operations was being pushed back by a tractor that surprisingly had “no brakes” and instead a messenger with “wheel chokes” was being used to walk along and use these “Chokes as a Brake” for halting the tractor.  It has emerged that after the “Push back operations and disconnection of tow-bar” the untrained tractor operator instead of driving clear, reversed the vehicle to hit the aircraft  and subsequent damage to the aircraft that resulted in its uncalled for ‘grounding of aircrafts” for 2 days, apart from considerable expense on repair of damage to the aircraft.

It is learnt that even though the Airports Authority has issued strict orders that Ground Handling Operations are to be carried out only by the Authorized Agencies that are obliged to strictly follow the IATA and ICCAO norms and standards, for some reason, in this case, the operations were being undertaken by a non-entitled agency that had been undertaking “Sensitive Aircraft Ground Handling Operations” using outdated antiquated 20 years old equipment such as this tractor without brake and untrained half baked manpower “as the operator in this case” who reversed the tractor instead of casting away, that resulted in serious damage.

The accident amply brings out the importance of UTMOST PROFESSIONLISM whilst undertaking ground handling operations at our airports. The Government of India has brought into force the latest regulations in this regard through a Gazette Notification which are already in force.  According to this, the authorized Ground Handling Agency would have to ensure that its Ground Handling Equipment is most modern (less than 5 years old) and totally compliant of IATA and ICCAO regulations.

We had an opportunity to interact with one of the such authorized Ground Handling Agency at Chennai Airport namely M/s Bhadra International and were informed that the company attaches the utmost importance to “Safety Management System” in its overall operations.  A dedicated officer not only overseas this aspect but also undertakes internal audits every three months for critical analysis.  This is in addition to the external audits that the company is subjected to by its client airlines.  These stringent audits backed by state-of-art environment friendly equipment pressed into service by the company is yielding excellent results apart from on time performance.

Such signs of revolutionary changes at our airport is now a reality.

Bhadra International-Air Arabia

Bhadra International-Air Arabia

We thank the Bhadra International team for providing us with great service delivery in terms of technologically advanced equipment and quality manpower. You are way ahead than your competitors in terms of quality of service. We will recommend Bhadra to other carriers as well. Our sincere thanks to all your team members for their sincere efforts.

Bhadra International’s Best Investment, its Well Trained, Dedicated Staff”

The staff at Bhadra International undergoes a thorough selection procedure before being hired, and then attends step-by-step training according to specific roles once on board. Regular personal appraisals and incentive pay plans ensure that dedicated and motivated workers produce their very best.

Take, for example, Bhadra’s approach to its safety management system. A dedicated officer oversees safety and undertakes internal audits every three months. In addition, external audits are done by airline customers every six months to grade performance levels. The results of these audits are then implemented at various levels of company operations.

Chairman Prem Bajaj says proudly, “This has resulted in maintaining high standards of safety and on-time performance at all seven airports in our network.”

Bajaj has also invested in technology with “bhadratech,” an online system that keeps better track of cargo and equipment, and makes administrative duties, such as human resources and billing, that much easier.

Bhadra is not behind any international Ground Handling Agency, when it comes to GSE investment either.  Bhadra’s GSE fleet includes new equipment such as Schopf pushbacks; Hitzinger gpus; Rheinemetal air starts; TLD conveyors and auto steps; Hydro towbars; Trepel cargo loaders and transporters; and Trepel tugs.

Just for example, the Bhadra International inventory at Chennai Airport includes:

• Fifteen passenger coaches.
• Fifteen pushbacks.
• Twenty step ladders.
• Fifteen conveyors.
• Fifteen main deck loaders for wide-body aircraft, eight low deck loaders for narrow-body aircraft.
• Forty-five tow bars.
• Ten gpus.
• Fifteen cargo transporters.
• Seventy-five battery-operated tugs and tractors.

Bhadra International shows the way of ‘Going Green’ at Indian Airports

At a time when the Indian government is trying to introduce new policies to make India “Go Green”, Bhadra International shows how you can eliminate pollution even from the tarmacs of the Indian airports that are full of diesel fumes and also the fumes emitted by the aircraft.

Bhadra International, the world class Ground Handling company, has spent millions of dollars in importing the state of the art cargo handling equipment that is run by battery, eliminating any kind of pollution on the tarmac.

So with Bhadra’s latest imported battery operated Cargo handling equipment the workers at the airport hangars do not have to breathe in the poisonous fumes normally emitted by the old outdated equipment run by diesel.

The credit goes to one of the visionary entrepreneurs, Prem Bajaj of Delhi,

He formed Bhadra back in 2000 when he realised that as the Indian economy was liberalised and grew, demand for aviation would also mushroom and modern ground handling services using the latest equipment would be required. BIIL has since spent over $100 million to procure the latest ground handling equipment and providing facilities to ensure personnel are properly trained to use the latest machinery.