AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE CREW
 |
|
PHOTO: skyservice
|
|
Aircraft do not service themselves and checked baggage does not jump into the cargo hold unaided. For those who are looking for a career in aviation, but for whatever reason have scratched pilot or aircraft maintenance technician off the checklist, the airport ramp provides a number of worthwhile career opportunities, especially for those who enjoy working outside.
The ramp attendant – or ramp agent – is an integral part of any airline or private aviation-fixed base operator (FBO), and is responsible for keeping an aircraft services and on schedule. Attendants operate aircraft service vehicles and equipment such as towing trucks, food service trucks and lavatory servicing trucks. They marshal aircraft to and from the gate and are most visible loading and unloading baggage and freight. Still, the job is more complex than meets the eye. The way freight and baggage is distributed, for example, will already have a direct effect on aircraft performance and fuel consumption, and each aircraft is different. The weight of an aircraft, for example, changes daily. For this reason, the attendant must keep in close communication with the aircraft dispatcher, who will have already calculated how much weight can be placed in each hold. On some aircraft, the ramp attendant must climb into the hold and manually load and shift baggage.
Running bags to connecting flights is another challenging part of the job, especially in cases where domestic, international and trans-border baggage is coming off a single flight.
Airlines, third-party air service providers and airport authorities employ most ramp attendants. Essential skills include document use, excellent oral communication, time management and decision-making skills, and the ability to life heavy items and pass a security check. Air Canada insists that its “station attendants” be available for two-weeks of full-time training. The work typically includes day and night shifts, weekends, holidays and, of course, all conditions of weather.
|
