ORO.GEN.315 Operational procedures for ground handling

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE Additional guidance on ground handling operational procedures can be found in the EASA Decision containing the AMC and GM to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/20 and in Appendix A to ICAO Doc 10121, Manual on Ground Handling. [applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/008/R]

INFORMATION ON THE TRANSPORT OF PASSENGERS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY AND THEIR MOBILITY DEVICES For the ground handling of passengers with reduced mobility and their mobility devices, the operator should do the following:

(a)publish applicable restrictions on the carriage of mobility devices, including electrical ones;

(b)provide means to receive information from passengers, either directly or indirectly, about any requirements for passenger assistance, including on the transport of their mobility device and the type of device;

(c)establish procedures to address the following risk areas:

(1)communication of safety-relevant information related to the transport of passengers requiring assistance and their mobility devices to the contracted ground handling organisations at the aerodrome, to facilitate the packing and loading of the mobility device for safe transport, as applicable, in accordance with the ICAO Technical Instructions;

(2)aircraft mass and balance and any loading limitations that apply;

(d)use appropriate masses for the mobility devices when preparing the mass and balance and load control documentation and comply with load-spreading requirements;

(e)include instructions in its operations manual, as applicable, for passenger acceptance, load control, boarding and disembarkation, and aircraft loading. [applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/008/R]

INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR GROUND HANDLING SERVICES When contracting ground handling services to a third-party ground handling organisation, the operator should ensure either of the following:

(a)The operator provides ground handling instructions and procedures to the ground handling organisation. If both the operator and the ground handling organisation apply the same industry standards or good practices, the operator should:

(1)aim at reducing the differences between its own GH operating procedures and those industry standards and good practices by conducting a safety risk assessment of those differences. The purpose of such an assessment is to evaluate whether those differences provide a higher level of safety than those industry standards or best practices;

(2)specify any safety-related exceptions or deviations from the industry standards and good practices in the instructions and procedures.

(b)When the operator is unable to provide its own instructions and procedures to the ground handling organisation:

(1)at aerodromes in the scope of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, the ground handling organisation provides those services in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2025/20;

(2)at aerodromes outside the scope of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, the ground handling organisation provides those services in accordance with the relevant industry standards and good practices, as agreed with the operator. [applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/008/R]

USE OF OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES OF THE GROUND HANDLING ORGANISATION The following are non-exhaustive examples of cases in which the operator is unable to provide its operational procedures for ground handling to the ground handling organisation, while still being compliant with the requirements of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/24 amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012:

(a)when the operator is an NCO operator, as it is not mandatory for NCO operators to have operational procedures for ground handling;

(b)when landing takes place at an alternate aerodrome, where the ground handling service provider does not have the operator’s operational procedures for the provision of ground handling services;

(c)when an emergency landing takes place at any aerodrome that is not included among the operator’s regular or alternate aerodromes of operation;

(d)when there is a change in the operational flight plan during flight, as may often be the case for non-commercial operators. [applicable from 27 March 2028 — ED Decision 2025/008/R]