8.2 GROUND HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS

Flight Crew Responsibilities

• Flight crew must position themselves on the flight deck.
• Required to inform air traffic control and aerodrome fire services of refueling with passengers on board if mandated by local authority.
• Must establish continuous communication with authorized refueller during refueling.
• Coordinate with ramp agents and loadmasters on evacuation door accessibility.
• Adjust cabin signs: turn SEATBELT signs OFF, NO SMOKING signs ON, and set emergency lighting to ARM before refueling.
• Ensure PA system is functional and accessible.
• Be ready to initiate passenger evacuation if needed during refueling.
• Reactivate SEATBELT signs after fueling concludes.

Authorised Refueller’s Responsibilities

• Maintain effective communication with the flight crew throughout refueling.
• Ensure fire extinguishing equipment is available in the aircraft parking area.
• Notify flight crew when refueling begins and ends.
• Alert flight crew if hazardous situations, such as fires, arise.
• Halt fueling operations when requested by flight crew.

Aircraft Ground Operations

• Only qualified flight crew conduct taxi operations; pushback and towing must comply with aviation standards.
• Specific operating procedures for cabin and cargo doors are outlined in manuals.
• Set up warning cones around engines and wings for safety during servicing.
• Loading equipment and steps can only approach a properly parked and chocked aircraft.

Aircraft Departure Protocol

• Prior documentation must be signed by the Commander before push-back; includes Aircraft Technical Log, fuel and weight documents.
• The last ground service personnel to leave the aircraft must secure the door; confirmation is required from the crew.
• If headsets are unusable during push-back, clear communication must be established.
• An “All Clear” signal is given post-pushback acknowledging that the ground personnel are clear of the aircraft.
• Taxi lights can be employed by the crew to communicate with ground staff if necessary.

Offloading and Loading Precautions

• Offloading follows the reverse order of loading; careful procedures to prevent aircraft tipping should be followed.
• Maintain a safe distance of ground vehicles from the aircraft fuselage during these operations.
• Prior checks for pallet integrity and positioning are crucial before ULD movement.

Carriage of Live Animals

• Compliance with international regulations for humane transport of live animals is mandatory.
• Only accepted from known shippers; endangered species must adhere to CITES Convention.
• IATA Live Animal Regulations must be followed; restrictions on pregnant animals without veterinary clearance.
• Animals giving birth within 48 hours prior to travel are prohibited.

De-icing and Anti-icing Procedures

• Procedures ensure aircraft are free from frost and ice; emphasis on holdover time requirements.
• Pre-take-off inspections and records of de-icing incidents are crucial.
• Ineffective de-icing conditions include freezing rain and heavy snow; no holdover time exists for these scenarios.
• Cold soak can lead to clear ice formation on wings, requiring touch checks for detection.

Hazards of Ice Accumulation

• Clear ice increases weight, drag, and reduces lift, posing serious control challenges.
• Frost on the underside of wings can affect drag but has minimal impact on lift; AEROTRANSCARGO limits frost thickness to 3mm.
• Jet blast during taxi can lead to critical surface contamination, affecting the effectiveness of anti-icing treatments.