Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences › Physical Sciences
This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to effectively perform the functions and responsibilities of a flight supervisor and/or ramp agent. It covers operational oversight, safety compliance, team coordination, and customer service within the aviation ground handling environment.
This course is designed for current or aspiring flight supervisors, ramp agents, and ground handling staff in the aviation industry who need to understand their roles and responsibilities in ensuring safe and efficient airport operations.
None — open enrollment
Objectives:
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of flight supervisors and ramp agents
• Identify key regulatory bodies and legislation governing aviation operations
• Describe the hierarchy and communication protocols within airport operations
• Recognise safety management systems and their importance in daily operations
Topics:
• Overview of the aviation industry and airport environment
• Roles and responsibilities of flight supervisors and ramp agents
• Regulatory framework: SACAA, ICAO, IATA, and relevant legislation
• Safety management systems (SMS) and safety culture
• Communication protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Introduction to ramp safety and hazard awareness
Objectives:
• Describe ramp layout, markings, and vehicle movements
• Explain ground handling processes for arriving and departing aircraft
• Identify equipment used in ramp operations and their safety features
• Apply procedures for aircraft marshalling and chocking
Topics:
• Ramp layout and safety zones
• Ground handling equipment: tugs, belt loaders, GPU, air start units
• Aircraft arrival and departure procedures
• Aircraft marshalling signals and hand signals
• Chocking, grounding, and safety cone placement
• Loading and unloading procedures for baggage and cargo
Objectives:
• Understand the flight supervisor's role in turnaround coordination
• Manage communication between ramp, cabin crew, and flight deck
• Monitor turnaround timelines and handle delays
• Ensure compliance with load control and weight and balance procedures
Topics:
• Turnaround coordination and timeline management
• Communication with ramp agents, cabin crew, and pilots
• Load control basics: weight and balance, trim, and load sheets
• Handling irregular operations and delays
• Documentation and reporting requirements
• Passenger and baggage reconciliation processes
Objectives:
• Identify security threats and implement preventive measures
• Apply emergency response procedures for ramp incidents
• Conduct safety inspections and hazard reporting
• Understand dangerous goods regulations and handling
Topics:
• Aviation security: access control, screening, and perimeter security
• Emergency procedures: aircraft incidents, fires, fuel spills
• Safety inspections of equipment and vehicles
• Hazard identification and risk assessment
• Dangerous goods regulations (DGR) and handling
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
Objectives:
• Operate specialised ground support equipment safely
• Manage ramp operations for wide-body and cargo aircraft
• Apply de-icing/anti-icing procedures
• Coordinate with ground handling teams for special flights
Topics:
• Specialised equipment: pushback tugs, stairs, catering trucks, lavatory service
• Wide-body aircraft turnaround procedures
• Cargo aircraft operations and loading plans
• De-icing and anti-icing procedures
• Coordinating with catering, fuel, and maintenance teams
• Managing VIP, diplomatic, and medical evacuation flights
Objectives:
• Understand human factors affecting performance in ramp operations
• Apply effective teamwork and communication strategies
• Manage fatigue, stress, and situational awareness
• Resolve conflicts and improve crew resource management
Topics:
• Human factors: fatigue, stress, and situational awareness
• Crew resource management (CRM) principles
• Effective communication techniques
• Conflict resolution and assertiveness
• Teamwork and coordination in high-pressure environments
• Case studies of incidents related to human factors
Objectives:
• Integrate knowledge and skills from all days into practical scenarios
• Demonstrate competence in flight supervisor and ramp agent functions
• Complete theoretical and practical assessments
• Review key concepts and address gaps
Topics:
• Integrated scenario-based exercises
• Theoretical assessment (written test)
• Practical assessment (simulated ramp operations)
• Feedback and remediation
• Course review and Q&A
• Certification requirements and next steps
The practicals component provides hands-on experience in ramp operations, equipment handling, safety procedures, and coordination tasks. Learners will apply theoretical knowledge in simulated and real-world scenarios under supervision, ensuring competence in flight supervisor and ramp agent functions.
Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.
Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.
Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.
On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.
| Component | Out of | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) | 100% | 30% |
| Daily Average (multiple choice) | 100% | 20% |
| Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) | 100% | 50% |
| Final Total | — | 100% |
All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.
Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.
Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.
| Delegates | Discount |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3% off |
| 10 | 6% off |
| 15 | 9% off |
| 20 | 12% off |
| 25 | 15% off |
| 30 | 18% off |
| 50 | 30% off |
| 75 | 35% off |
| 100 | 40% off |
3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.
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