Overview of the role

Move aircrafts into position.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the Aviation sector, across a range of different types of organisations and employers such as airlines, fixed based operators (FBOs), airports and service providers. This role is found in both general, commercial and military aviation. Aviation Movement Specialists therefore work in a wide range of environments that involve all kinds of landing platforms/runways and aircraft types. This ranges from heliports and small airfields all the way through to multi-runway global airport hubs. Demand for Aviation Movement services will much depend on the scale of operations; for instance when working at a major commercial airport such services are often needed constantly and around the clock. In the military, demand might be less predictable but sometimes intense.

All Aviation Movement Specialists are typically responsible for the safe handling of very expensive aircraft and other vital equipment and the importance of this occupation is highly regarded across the aviation sector.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to move aircraft into position.

An aviation movement specialist provides the necessary under wing ground service support to aircraft as required. They will ensure the safe and efficient movement and recovery of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and the safety of other team members involved in aircraft arrival and departures. Aviation Movement Specialists take responsibility for the safety of team members and themselves using highly specialised equipment to move aircraft within an aviation environment in accordance with standard operating procedures. This could mean, for instance, using a tractor to tow a jet airplane into position, so it may take off.

Aviation movements specialists operate airside, on and around the landing platform/runway. They will be expected to work outdoors in all weathers, work on various shifts (days, evening, nights, weekends, and holidays) be able to work in a manual environment and repeatedly lift loads in a shift and work as part of the wider team that ensures timely and safe aircraft turnaround and must hold a full UK driving licence.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with an aviation operations manager, whom they typically will report to and who usually has oversight of the entire planned operation. They will also interact with the ground handling team members, who work to prepare and receive aircraft. The aviation movement specialist will need to brief and monitor the ground handling team members to ensure they all work compliantly.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for towing aircraft and pushing aircraft backwards, under minimal supervision, in both planned and emergency circumstances. This might be achieved when sat in control of a tractor, or when operating equipment by remote control. When doing this, they coordinate the team of ground handlers that support the operation, typically via head-sets or through hand signals.


They are also responsible for safe, secure and timely delivery of tasks associated to their work area to ensure people are supported and to adopt an appropriately balanced decision-making process to achieve business objectives (as guided by the aviation operations manager).


Typically, An aviation movement specialist prepares vehicles prior to use airside, safely operates a vehicle airside, ensures vehicle operations comply with aviation standard operating procedures, legislative aviation requirements and implements the correct procedures in the event of incidents or emergencies.


Aviation movement specialists will supervise and monitor team members to carry out daily inspections prior to using specialist equipment ensuring its safe operation and that it is left in a safe, secure, allocated area after use. They will ensure that the preparation of the airside environment for marshalling of aircraft and or vehicles is correct and in accordance with organisation’s standard operating procedures. They will also monitor the marshalling of aircraft and or vehicles.


Aviation movement specialists ensure the rules and regulations for aircraft, vehicles and team members operating airside are adhered to and documented in accordance with airport safety requirements, identify and report risks and ensure compliance in line with organisational procedures. Other responsibilities include maintaining good working practices that comply with aviation regulations and health and safety. Effective communication and team work ensure that all aspects of an aircraft movement specialist’s role play a critical part in achieving the objectives of their organisation. Aviation movement specialists will identify and escalate issues and risks to the appropriate person, whom depending on the problem may or may not be the aviation operations manager.

Typical job titles include:

Aviation movement specialist Aviation mover Aviation operations Aviation supervisor Ramp lead agent

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Carry out Safety checks when operating a tug, pushback tractor for pushback / towing including operating remote control equipment when applicable

K1 K2 K4 K7 K11 K12 K13

S1 S3 S5 S8 S9 S12 S13 S14 S15

B1 B3 B4 B6

Duty 2 Conduct and supervise each stage of the aviation movement to completion, to meet timely aircraft movement activity

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19

S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 3 Complete and maintain documentation to meet organisation compliance process & legislative aviation requirements

K3 K4 K8 K10 K11 K13 K16

S3 S4 S5 S7 S8 S15 S16 S17

B1 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 4 Communicate with other airside teams when using specialised equipment including headsets /hand signals

K5 K6 K7 K10 K11 K12 K14 K15

S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 5 Carry out checks on aviation systems and identify faults and refer to appropriate personnel accordingly

K8 K9 K13 K14 K15 K16

S1 S3 S8

B1 B3 B4 B6

Duty 6 Escalate disruption incidents and emergency’s (for example, security incidents, potential breaches and prohibited articles) to the appropriate person

K3 K4 K5 K8 K9 K10 K11 K16

S3 S4 S6 S11 S12 S16 S17

B1 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 7 Brief ground handling team members ahead of a planned aircraft movement to ensure everyone involved is aware of the plan and their own role.

K5 K6 K7 K10 K12 K13 K14 K15

S1 S2 S3 S6 S7 S8 S13 S14 S15 S16

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 8 Operate airside vehicles selecting correct equipment / separation of aircraft / vehicles and passengers when applicable

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K12 K13 K14 K15 K17 K18 K19

S1 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 9 Monitor the marshalling of aircraft and other vehicles (tug, pushback tractor, specialised equipment) including preparation of the airside environment for marshalling

K1 K2 K4 K5 K7 K8 K10 K17 K18 K19

S1 S3 S4 S9 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 10 Prepare vehicles prior to use airside and ensure the safe maneuvering of aircraft vehicles and personnel airside separation of aircraft / vehicles and passengers when applicable

K1 K2 K4 K5 K6 K9 K10 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19

S1 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S9 S10 S12 S13 S14 S15

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6


KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The range of specialist vehicles and equipment and how they are used in airside movements. Back to Duty

K2: Techniques to monitor compliance with relevant health and safety and environmental legislation. Back to Duty

K3: Principles for moving different types of aircraft. Back to Duty

K4: Requirements for maintaining aviation security in own area of authority and action to take in the event of a breach of security. Back to Duty

K5: Aviation and other applicable legislation, procedures and regulations relating to an aviation environment, and monitoring procedures within own area of responsibility. Back to Duty

K6: Communication methods and techniques applicable to different audiences. Back to Duty

K7: Roles within the team and how these works together to achieve the organisation’s objectives. Back to Duty

K8: Principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Back to Duty

K9: Procedures for preparing and operating the aviation systems used for moving aircraft, within own role. Back to Duty

K10: Aviation system faults and errors and what remedial action to take. Back to Duty

K11: Procedures to follow in an emergency, within own area of responsibility. Back to Duty

K12: Range of potential aviation incidents and disruption that may occur and the appropriate action to take in accordance with standard operating procedures. Back to Duty

K13: Types of dangerous goods relevant to a range of aviation operations and the procedures for management. Back to Duty

K14: Timelines for aviation operations performance and consequences of not meeting them. Back to Duty

K15: The methods for matching the planned airside movement with the team roles, including briefing on the equipment/vehicles to be used, and incident/emergency responses. Back to Duty

K16: The requirements and responsibilities of self and team members in checking specialised equipment prior to use, ensuring safe operation and correct storage after use. Back to Duty

K17: Procedures for preparing the area and required equipment prior to marshalling of aircraft and /or vehicles. Back to Duty

K18: Techniques for identifying relevant ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations for aircraft, vehicles and personnel operating airside. Back to Duty

K19: Marshalling procedures, including the correct monitoring of operation of marshalling equipment and team members. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Selects vehicle(s) and equipment applicable to the aircraft and the type of aviation movement. Back to Duty

S2: Coordinate the airside team to perform the planned aviation movement. Back to Duty

S3: Monitor area of responsibility to comply with applicable legislation and organisational procedures, addressing and / or reporting hazards. Back to Duty

S4: Identify and respond to security risks in own area of operations e.g. challenging people in restricted areas, recording and /or reporting of security incidents. Back to Duty

S5: Adapt communication methods and language to meet the situation. Back to Duty

S6: Manage own and team’s workload to meet performance objectives. Back to Duty

S7: Prepare and use aviation systems to move aircraft, including taking remedial action upon identification of faults or errors. Back to Duty

S8: Monitor area of responsibility and take appropriate action to reduce the impact of emergencies, incidents or disruption. Back to Duty

S9: Monitor team members preparing to use a vehicle airside. Back to Duty

S10: Ensure vehicle operations comply with aviation standard operating procedures. Back to Duty

S11: Implement the correct procedures in the event of incidents or emergencies with an airside vehicle. Back to Duty

S12: Monitor and supervise team members carrying out daily safety inspections and secure storage of specialist equipment. Back to Duty

S13: Monitor the team to ensure correct preparation of the airside environment for marshalling of aircraft and or vehicle(s). Back to Duty

S14: Monitor marshalling of aircraft and or vehicles in accordance with organisation’s standard operating procedures. Back to Duty

S15: Ensure the rules and regulations for aircraft, vehicles and team members operating airside are adhered to in accordance with airport safety requirements. Back to Duty

S16: Identify and report compliance risks in line with organisational procedures. Back to Duty

S17: Handle dangerous goods correctly. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Embeds and promotes the organisations values. Back to Duty

B2: Treat people with courtesy and respect. Back to Duty

B3: Accountable for own actions and those of the immediate team. Back to Duty

B4: Reliable and pro-actively challenges poor practice. Back to Duty

B5: Sources solutions and seeks to continuously improve and develop. Back to Duty

B6: Puts safety first for themselves and others. Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths


Additional details

Occupational Level:

3

Duration (months):

18

Review

Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
Level: 3
Reference: ST0954
Version: 1.1
Date updated: 22/12/2022
Approved for delivery: 3 August 2021
Route: Transport and logistics
Typical duration to gateway: 18 months
Typical EPA period: 4 months
Maximum funding: £7000
LARS Code: 653
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: Menzies Aviation, MOD, Crosby Training, Bristow Group, Gatwick airport, Heathrow airport, BA, American Airlines, Manchester Airport, Outsource Training, Highfield, Virgin Atlantic, RACPD, TC Partnership, Signature flight support, Swissport UK

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.1 End-point assessment plan revised 22/12/2022 Not set
1.0 Approved for delivery 03/08/2021 21/12/2022

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