Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
16 Introducing new maintenance personnel into the airport oper- ating environment requires consensus on what topics should be covered. This chapter presents survey results on the topics many GA airport operators believe should be covered in the initial orientation, which topics have more value than others, and an assessment of current training at GA airports. There is agreement on some key areas, but it is noted in this regard that the challenges that airports face outlined in chapter two, and the airport operating environment and organizational charac- teristics described in chapter three, affect the issues most criti- cal for a particular airport. As with any type of training, the primary goal is safe and efficient performance by employees. INITIAL TRAINING One survey question asked what topics to include in a new maintenance employee training program (Q26). Table 4 presents 46 items that might be considered in such a pro- gram. The second column identifies the percentage of the 30 responding GA airports that agree each topic should be included in a training curriculum for new maintenance hires. Some of the topics are broad and inclusionary of other top- ics listed. For instance, ground vehicle and radio operations includes knowledge of lighting/signs/markings and ATC oper- ations; OSHA regulations includes the use of material safety data sheets; and instruction in safety management systems includes risk management/assessment and human factors/root cause analysis. There are several other topic descriptions that could be inclusionary as well, such as ATC operations, rules and regulations, construction activity, pilot and general avia- tion operations, and winter snow operations. Topics not listed but suggested by survey respondents included international refuse handling, security, and public relations skills. All the responding airport operators agreed on four topics: (1) ground vehicle and radio operations, (2) foreign object debris (FOD) inspection, (3) airport security requirements, and (4) lighting, signs, and markings. (The latter three topics are normally included in a ground vehicle operation course.) The identification and ranked importance of these topics reflect the views of airport managers at the surveyed airports. Readers of this report can consider Table 4 a laundry list of topics that may or may not have applicability to any particu- lar airport. The importance of including any topic in a new- hire training orientation will vary to a large extent according to the type of operations conducted at the airport, the nature of the facilities operated and maintained, and the location of the airport. For instance, snow removal would be a very important topic for inclusion at those airports that routinely experience winter and snow conditions, but less so for GA airports in warmer winter weather areas. The requirement that maintenance personnel know about ATCT operations at an airport without an operating control tower would be less important than at those airports that do have an operating air traffic tower. Understanding Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) operations would only be necessary for employees at an airport that has CBP presence. Nonetheless, it is important that consideration be given to the professional advancement of employees and to enhanc- ing their overall knowledge and understanding of airport operations as a means to promote safety and awareness of industry activity. For that reason, new, recurrent, and contin- ual training is important to elevate the knowledge and skills of all new hires. To help clarify which of the 46 items listed in Table 4 may be the most important, respondents were asked to identify the top five topics (Q27). The number of times a topic was included in the top five ranking is shown in the 24-item list in Table 5. Ground vehicle and radio operations is clearly the most important training element to be considered. As noted earlier, the topic of ground vehicle operation often includes several of the other topics listed lower in the lists. Table 5 finds sup- port in a previous study listed in the literature review (Quilty 2005b) related to the training of airport operations new hires. For comparison purposes, that study found the following 10 topics were ranked most important: (1) ground vehicle operation, (2) self-inspection, (3) lighting systems, (4) airport emergency plan, (5) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), (6) Part 139 compliance, (7) airport certification manual, (8) aviation acronyms, (9) security identification area, and (10) construction activity. One particular survey question helped to identify an orga- nizational gap in training procedures. The survey question asked if the airport had a program in place for training newly hired maintenance workers or contractors (Q9). Seventeen of the 30 GA airports responded affirmatively. However, when chapter four TRAINING TOPICS AND CONSIDERATIONS
17 asked to provide a copy of their training outline, only three airports responded. Further follow-up indicated that while several airports may have had a training program per se, it was not necessarily well organized or in a format they could produce in writing. The lack of a formal program could be a factor in why an airport may be satisfied or dissatisfied with its new employee training. Two of the airports indicated they had participated in the study because they were hoping to obtain information to improve their own training curricula and therefore did not have a training outline as yet. Sample training material submitted by a few airports (repro- duced in Appendices D through K) shows that the integration process for new employees often includes other pertinent top- ics. Learning about the airport organization, its policies and procedures, and customer relations are common subjects. Other topics such as general business, human resources devel- opment (HRD), safety training, and more specialized areas can supplement an airportâs training regimen. Managers at GA airports can improve their training curricula or procedures by extracting information from the various appendices in this synthesis to suit their operations. Top 5 Important Training Topics Number of Top 5 Mentions Ground Vehicle and Radio Operations 29 Lighting/Signs/Markings 19 Foreign Object Debris Inspection 15 Airport Rules/Regulations 13 Air Traffic Control Operations 9 Construction Activity and Safety 9 Airport Emergency Plan 8 Airport Security Requirements 6 NOTAMs 6 GA Operations 4 Airfield/Terminal Electrical Basics 4 Organizational Communication 3 OSHA Requirements 3 Airport Design and Layout 3 Pilot Operating Procedures 3 Snow Removal Operations 2 Accident/Incident Reporting 2 Wildlife Mitigation 2 Maintenance Records and Control 2 Environmental Compliance 2 Safety Management System 1 Public Safety Awareness 1 Accident/Incident Reporting 1 Building Facility Maintenance 1 Source: Survey Q27. TABLE 5 IMPORTANCE OF TOPICS FOR INCLUSION IN A TRAINING PROGRAM Training Curriculum Topics Percentage Agree Ground Vehicle and Radio Operations 100.0 Foreign Object Debris Inspection 100.0 Airport Security Requirements 100.0 Lighting/Signs/Markings 100.0 Wildlife Mitigation 96.6 Construction Activity and Safety 93.3 Air Traffic Control Operations 93.3 Airport Rules/Regulations 93.3 GA Operations 90.0 NOTAMs 90.0 Accident/Incident Reporting 90.0 Airport Emergency Plan 83.3 Material Safety Data Sheets 83.3 Maintenance Records and Control 83.3 Non Vehicle Equipment Operation 83.3 Public Safety Awareness 80.0 Building Facility Maintenance 80.0 Environmental Compliance 80.0 Airfield/Terminal Electrical Basics 76.6 Fueling Operations 73.3 OSHA Requirements 70.0 Navigational Aid Operation 66.6 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting 60.0 Organizational Communication 60.0 Pilot Operating Procedures 56.6 Snow Removal Operations 56.6 Helicopter Operations 56.6 Part 77 Obstructions 53.3 Airport Design and Layout 53.3 Human Factors/Root Cause Analysis 50.0 Safety Management System 46.6 Risk Assessment/Management 40.0 Building Codes 36.6 Meteorology 30.0 Communication Center Operations 26.6 Building and Construction Methods 26.6 Aircraft Deicing 23.3 Military Operations 20.0 Custom Border Patrol/Immigration 20.0 Airline/Commuter/Air Taxi Operations 13.3 Air Cargo Operations 13.3 FAA 5010 Master Record 13.3 International Aviation Operations 6.6 State/Federal Regulations 3.3 Tort, Contract & Similar Law 3.3 Secondary Language 0.0 Source: Survey Q26. TABLE 4 AGREEMENT OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS ON TOPICS FOR INCLUSION IN A NEW HIRE MAINTENANCE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR GA AIRPORTS
18 ACRP Report 16: Guidebook for Managing Small Air- ports (Grothaus et al. 2009) contains a section on developing an orientation program for new employees. It recommends that an orientation program include normal human resources policies and procedures (i.e., harassment, drug and alcohol use, safety policies, and employment agreements); airport oper- ating plans and procedures (airport emergency plans, secu- rity, snow removal, and safety plans); the airportâs design and layout; and the tenant structure and operating requirements, coupled with on-the-job training (OJT). The state of Oregon is currently working on a program for the training of its air- field maintenance operators and contractors, as illustrated in the case example here. ing to all involved with the project, whether the airport is certified or not. In a previous ACRP study by Castellano (2009), eight of 13 GA airports reported recurrent training requirements for individuals having driving privileges on the movement areas of the airport. As mentioned previously, consideration needs to be given to enhancing employeesâ overall knowledge and understanding of airport operations and maintenance in order to promote general safety and awareness. For that reason, recurrent and continual training are important to elevate the knowledge and skills of a new hire. ASSESSMENT Assessment is important for validating the initial and recur- rent training efforts of any organization. One survey question asked whether the new hire or contractor/tenant training is assessed in some way (Q28). Some form of training assess- ment is performed at 11 of the 30 GA airports. The other 14 airports provided basic training but did not have a for- mal method of ensuring the effectiveness of that training. As with many training initiatives, assessment can be a way to prevent later mistakes or errors in practice. An FAA drivers training curriculum suggests a written test be administered with a passing grade of 90% (Advisory Circular 150/5210-20 2008). Corroborating the data from the literature review, a study on driver access onto the movement areas of airports (Castellano 2009, p. 16) identified several GA airports that conducted some type of movement area training assessment. Nine of the 13 GA airports in that study used a written test, four administered a driving exam, and three employed an oral exam. The literature review also pointed up the U.S. Air Forceâs use of assessment in its training by requiring its servicemen and servicewomen to pass the following examinations before being authorized onto the airfield (AFI 13-213 2012): 1. Airfield diagram/layout practical test 2. Communications test 3. Basic communication principles 4. General knowledge test 5. Practical driving test 6. Runway incursion prevention test. Typical safety audit findings suggest that the develop- ment and use of a checklist for airfield driver training will help ensure airfield operators can meet necessary compe- tencies during a practical drivers test (AFI 13-213 2012). A practical driving test for certification could include the use of an airfield diagram and having the new driver point out all of the key areas noted on the diagram while driving (Appendices C and F). CASE EXAMPLE 2: The Oregon Effort The Oregon State Department of Aviation oversees the oper- ation of 28 general aviation airports throughout the state. It does so primarily through interagency agreements with the local communities. For the small communities, the agency may hire either a full-time or temporary employee to oversee the airport operation, depending upon the level of activity and need. It will then normally contract with a local land- scaping company to provide needed services such as mowing. Either the state airport manager or local onsite supervisor will then meet with the local contractor and provide one to two hours of on-the-job training covering the safety aspects of airport operations. The department, as part of its General Instructions and Procedures agreement with the contractor, includes a Ground Vehicle Access Program Training Guide. The guide is an outline of some of the responsibilities and safety concerns the contractor is to be aware of, but the actual body of instruction is left to the trainer. Currently, the department is working to develop a guidebook that would better serve as a training tool to supplement the training process. Ideally, the agency would like to have available some sort of computer-based training that would include testing capabilities. RECURRENT TRAINING The synthesis survey also inquired about recurrent training of new maintenance employees after they have been on the job for a period of time (Q22). The majority of respondents (22) do provide recurrent training); eight do not. Under 14 CFR Part 139.303(c), the seven GA airports that hold operating certificates are required to conduct annual recurrent training for persons having access to the movement and safety areas of the airport. For GA airports, Advisory Circular 150/5210-20, Ground Vehicle Operations on Airports (2008) recommends that regular recurrent training be provided to all personnel who access the movement area. If an airport receives fed- eral assistance for an airfield construction project, it will be required to develop a safety plan and provide requisite train-
