With thousands of flights coming in and out of the UK every day, creating a safe, secure and efficient airside environment is a vital element of BAA’s operations. What happens airside impacts the all-round airport experience which is why the teams working in this area are vital to the smooth running of the airport.

Airside operations is grouped into three main sectors: engineering, compliance and cleaning and is responsible for:

• Runways
• Taxiways
• Aprons
• An eight mile perimeter outside the airport fences.

All of these sectors have many complex and vital tasks which aircraft rely on in order to take off, land and taxi safely, including:

• Marshalling aircraft into arrival gates
• Allocating stands
• Inspecting the runways and aprons to ensure they are clean and free from hazards
• Monitoring noise levels
• Ensuring environmental compliance throughout the airport and surrounding areas
• Duty management of the airside area
• Auditing and checking all ground handlers, refuellers and ramp operators.

Technical competency is very important for everyone working airside. It’s a fast-paced, constantly changing environment where safety is absolutely paramount and the various challenges presented require quick thinking and fast, decisive action. We provide all staff with in-depth training at every airport, and this has set the benchmark for airside operations at airports worldwide.

Listen to one of our airside operations managers talk about her role

View our airside operations training programme (2.3MB PDF)