AMC1 ARGH.OVS.305 Oversight programme

PROCEDURES FOR OVERSIGHT OF GH ORGANISATIONS

(a) The competent authority should appoint an inspector for each GH organisation with overall responsibility for supervising, and liaising with, the organisation’s management and for reporting on compliance with the requirements applicable to its operation. When more than one inspector is assigned to a GH organisation, their responsibilities should be clearly defined.

(b) Inspections, audits and oversight procedures, of a scale and frequency commensurate with the organisation’s operations, should include, but not be limited to:

(1) the organisation’s management system;

(2) safety management, safety risk identification and mitigation actions;

(3) reporting records;

(4) manuals and procedures;

(5) training programmes and records and written examples of training management;

(6) performance of GH activities during the aircraft turnaround process;

(7) GSE, including records of its maintenance;

(8) operational procedures, training and documentation regarding dangerous goods.

(c) The following types of inspections should be included, as part of the oversight programme:

(1) inspection of documents and records;

(2) inspection of passenger acceptance in view of the correct application of procedures related to the safe transportation of dangerous goods in baggage and on the person;

(3) inspection of GH activities during turnaround, including passenger boarding and disembarkation;

(4) inspection of training of GH personnel;

(5) inspection of cargo operations (where applicable), including the handling of dangerous goods.

(d) An inspection/audit should focus on the items selected for the scope of that inspection/audit. Inspections and audits may be conducted jointly or separately. They may also be coordinated with those conducted by the competent authorities responsible for other aviation areas.

(1) Joint audits with competent authorities for other aviation areas may be performed to increase the effectiveness of examining the interfaces between different players at the aerodrome level, such as aerodrome operators, GH organisations and aircraft operators.

(2) Competent authority inspectors from other domains may also be involved in audits or inspections of GH activities in which they are competent, such as flight operations inspectors, aerodrome inspectors, or ramp inspectors competent in the oversight of dangerous goods, aircraft unloading/loading, de-icing/anti-icing operations, refuelling operations, aircraft pushback and towing operations, or GSE maintenance.

(e) Inspections may, at the discretion of the competent authority, be conducted with or without prior notification of the GH organisation.

(f) In accordance with the provisions of Article 89 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, inspectors should take account of any indication of significant deterioration in the organisation’s financial situation that may have an impact on safety. However, this should not imply that the assessment of the organisation’s economic or financial situation is a responsibility of the competent authority. If significant deterioration is detected, the competent authority should immediately inform the competent authority designated for the implementation of the Council Directive on Groundhandling (Council Directive 96/67/EC). The competent authority should also increase its technical surveillance of the provision of GH services, with a particular emphasis on upholding safety performance and the effectiveness of the organisation’s management system.

(g) The nature or magnitude of non-compliance identified by the competent authority will serve to support its continuing confidence in the organisation, or, alternatively, may erode that confidence. In the latter case, the competent authority will need to review any identifiable shortcomings of the management system and take appropriate action if required.