Deviations by ground handling staff

ISMS partners jointly investigated an incident in which an employee was severely injured after being hit by an Ambulift (a so called ‘Bulmor’) vehicle.

After the first investigation results, an awareness campaign was launched for improving the pedestrian safety at airside. Further on, a temporary Taskforce investigates other safety improvements for pedestrian safety at airside.

Schiphol consulted its partners in order to create together a License to Operate (LTO) for Generic Ground Handling Service Providers at the airport. The LTO defines the minimum safety, quality, and operating standards for the ground handling operation. The content was drafted with the involvement of Ground Handling Service Providers, contributing to the shared goals: a safe and healthy workplace for all employees, reliable and excellent performance and sustainable operations. As a result, a level playing field is achieved and clarity is offered on the minimum quality level for ground handling. Schiphol aims at implementing the LTO per January 1st 2023 and will develop the LTO along the way.

ISMS partners jointly investigated an incident in which a towed aircraft collided with the passenger bridge on a stand. Based upon this investigation a system is being developed so that when parking a towed aircraft, it is easier to see exactly where to stop.

Schiphol and its partners are exploring navigation and surveillance systems in vehicles on airside, to reduce the likelihood of runway incursions.

Schiphol and its partners are revising the names of specific taxiways. We will implement a revised nomenclature of the taxiway system to improve consistency. This will reduce the likelihood of errors and misunderstandings due to similar/confusing naming conventions.

ISMS partners have investigated the reasons why ground personnel on platforms and service roads do not always comply with the rules and regulations. This research demonstrates several factors at play. To improve this situation, we have now implemented measures that were feasible at short notice.
Line markings and pedestrian zones are improved, and lights are recovered. The Schiphol rules are updated and enforced, and the sanctioning time is shortened. Integral safety campaigns are launched frequently. The Basic training Safety & Security has been improved and is an eLearning with an annual recurrent training.
Program for improving the visibility on crossings at airside is being executed.
This measure consists of multiple underlying actions with their own implementation date. Therefore, no implementation and planning date is mentioned on the website.

Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) and its ISMS partners will improve the planning systems to increase predictability of flight profiles to reduce collision risk as part of the European SESAR (Single European Sky ATM research) programme.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) and other partners are going to investigate improved ways for inbound traffic to enter the airspace around Schiphol as part of the airspace restructuring programme in 2023. This would be a next step in developing the operational concept. Doing so would increase the predictability of flight profiles in approaching aircraft to evenly spread traffic load, which would reduce the likelihood of occurrences that affect flight safety.

Schiphol and its partners have developed and published a website that pushback drivers can easily consult for the standard procedures for pushback. This will reduce the risk of safety incidents during pushback manoeuvres. Evaluation of this measure showed even more could be achieved with this new website. A date for implementing this is scheduled.

Schiphol and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) are implementing ‘Follow the Greens’. These are a set of sequenced green lights that guides pilots along the assigned taxi route. This visual aid eliminates the need for pilots to consult maps, reduces workload for ground controllers and relieves stress on ground frequencies. It will improve coordination and reduces the likelihood of on-ground safety occurrences and runway incursions.

Schiphol and its partners are exploring the introduction of Runway Status Lights (RWSL). These are series of autonomously-operating red in-pavement lights that warn both pilots and vehicle drivers for other aircraft or vehicles on runways. This visual aid will reduce the likelihood of runway incursions.

Links:

• • RWSL implementation in Paris-Charles de Gaulle
  • EuroControl RSWL information

Schiphol is building a new pier with stands for both widebody and narrowbody aircraft. The new gates can accommodate three widebody and five narrowbody aircraft or 11 narrowbody aircraft. The A-pier is situated in the South-West area of the airport, next to runway 06/24 (Kaagbaan). The new pier will increase gate capacity and relieve gate allocation constraints, reducing the likelihood of on-ground safety occurrences. A new contractor is employed to realise the built of the new pier. Work preparations are currently under way.

Schiphol is equipped with a circumferential double-lane taxiway system, except for the current Quebec taxiway. Schiphol and its partners will increase operational predictability, uniformity and ground capacity by doubling the Quebec taxiway. This will reduce the likelihood of on-ground safety occurrences. The double taxiway will be integrated in the clockwise and counter-clockwise routing of the Alfa and Bravo taxiways. The duplication of the Quebec taxiway will be implemented in three phases (1A, 1B and 2). Phase 1A is implemented. The new aircraft bridge is in use now. Phase 1B and phase 2 will be combined and executed directly after each other, this improves efficiency in the project management and execution.
 

Less congestion in SW corner after splitting departure flows (for runway 36L and 36C)

Smaller area of two way traffic reduces waiting times for opposite traffic

Situation after phase 1B and phase 2

Schiphol and its partners are conducting a study on the possibility for ground handlers to share their vehicles and equipment. Sharing reduces the movements and the amount of ground handling equipment at aprons, such as stairs and baggage carts, and less material is left on the platforms. This situation reduces the likelihood of safety occurrences on the ground.

Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) and Schiphol consider how to move towing movement control to the operation room in the Tower with ground control in order to enhance communication and coordination. This will reduce the likelihood of safety occurrences on the ground. LVNL will take over the task tow control from Schiphol. Implementation is planned before 2027.

Runway combination changes that take place at the last minute may cause a disruption to the expected flight handling process, both for pilots and air traffic controllers. Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) and Schiphol have developed measures to further reduce the number of last-minute runway changes, and the associated risks, in order to prevent air and ground safety incidents. For instance, we maintain landing runways when an aircraft is in the Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) Schiphol; in addition, we use two departure runways when needed for a more stable traffic flow. We have also developed measures to improve the predictability of runway use and traffic flows using improved planning systems such as Arrival Management and Collaborative Decision Making. The percentage of last-minute runway combination changes is being monitored closely. The Schiphol Airport Operations Centre (APOC) is in use from June 2021 on.

When taxiing to or from the Sierra platform, aircraft cross runway 06/24 (Kaagbaan). Schiphol and its partners have researched the ways that this crossing can be made safer to mitigate the risk of possible runway incursions. We also looked at alternative taxi routes to and from the Sierra platform. After research it is decided that aircraft are going to use a new intersection at Sierra 1. Because aircraft do no longer cross at a ‘high energy point’, the risk of runway crossings will decrease.