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ASA Monthly - September 2024

Published on: 04 September 2024

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The Voice of Service Providers Worldwide

#6 / ASA Monthly - September 2024

Lobbying/Political

ASA Attended the Air Transport News Ops Event in Athens on 16 September, where it was honoured with the Ops Award 2024. This recognition acknowledges ASA’s relentless efforts in promoting the global importance of ground handling.
ASA was invited to speak at the first module of the newly created European Air Transport University, sponsored by the European Commission and ENAC France, in Paris-Orly on 18 September. The event brought together seasoned aviation professionals from around the world, focusing on ground handling operations and SLAs.
ASA met with Mr. Mazdak Hobbi, the newly appointed FAA Senior Representative to the EU, ahead of FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker’s planned visit to the EU aviation sector in October. ASA took this opportunity to remind Mr. Hobbi of a previously unanswered letter regarding concerns about the state of ground handling in the U.S.
On 26 September, ASA organized a brainstorm session with members of the Operating Board to assess the effectiveness of Directive 96/67/EC, specifically the 7-year license duration for ground handling. The session concluded with two key recommendations: introducing tender rotations and extending license durations due to rising operational costs. A policy paper on these findings will be drafted and shared with members by the end of the year.
On 30 September, ASA took part as a panelist at the Geneva Aviation Forum, contributing to key discussions that shape the future of aviation. This platform allowed ASA to engage with other stakeholders and reinforce its influence on industry trends.

Contact for lobbying and political matters: fabio.gamba@asaworld.aero

Operations/Working Groups

ASA’s Training Committee appointed two auditors to carry out pilot audits with four ASA members as part of the final preparations for the ATAP (Airport Training and Accreditation Program) certification. Results from these audits are expected by mid-November, which will contribute to the official launch of ATAP in Q1 2025.
As an observer of the Board, ASA attended a two-day meeting with the Cargo iQ in Geneva, discussing updates to their Master Operating Plan, a key framework for managing cargo shipments. ASA also contributed to discussions on "Care Mapping" which focuses on the special handling of sensitive cargo such as live animals and perishables.
ASA engaged with IATA's Ground Operations Group (GOG) in Montreal, covering industry topics such as ISAGO, IGOM adoption, and regulations for transporting lithium-ion batteries and mobility devices. The meeting also addressed de-icing challenges and its implications for flight safety. ASA’s participation ensured alignment with IATA’s strategic objectives and strengthened industry collaboration.

Contact for operations and working groups matters:
ariaen.zimmerman@asaworld.aero

Membership/Institutional

ASA is actively engaging with various national or regional associations for closer collaboration. Discussions are currently ongoing with ASUK in the UK, Abesata in Brazil, CAHA for the Caribbean, ASPA in the USA, VDF in Germany, and AFRAA for Africa. These collaborations aim to strengthen global ties and share best practices in ground handling.
ASA attended the African Development Bank’s Transport Forum in Abidjan on 18 September, focusing on the themes of Connectivity and Affordability in African skies. This event marked an important step in enhancing partnerships within the African aviation sector.
ASA, in collaboration with Leo & Muhly Cyber Security Advisors, is currently organizing live sessions with five member companies providing ground handling services. These sessions aim to set the framework for a Cyber Security Standard for the Aviation Services Industry.

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Events/Communication

With the ASA Leadership Forum and Aviation Connect approaching, the one-to-one meeting IT platform is now live and available for all registered participants. You should have received an email from info@evaevents.com. Those who haven’t registered yet are invited to do so here. The temporary list of confirmed attendees can be viewed here.
There is still time to submit your candidacy to the ALF Awards ceremony. The results will be announced by the independent jury on 18 Octobre. Those that have been selected to as finalists will be contacted to join ASA on stage and collect the award after a brief presentation of the reason of the candidacy.

Contact for events and communication matters: mercedes.dieguez@asaworld.aero

NEW ! Gse Usage Insights – Average Monthly Days & Daily Hours (Europe & Oceania)

Each month, ASA will share assembled data on motorized GSE (mix) from airports across 15 European countries and 2 in Oceania, in partnership with Targa Telematics.

These insights, based on data collected through Targa Telematics’ tracking systems, provide an overview of average usage days per month and daily working hours. While not exhaustive, the data offers a valuable comparison of fleet performance year-over-year.

We aim to include data from other regions in the future to offer a broader view of GSE usage trends.

Europe (15 States)