Airside Operations: overview

Our airside operations vision is to be the best runway operator in the world, our objective being to maximize the capacity of our critical assets – the runways, taxiways and aprons. To do this we have to work in partnership with many other airside operating companies, third parties and contractors.

Our front line staff have a range of duties including aircraft parking/stand allocation, bird control and inspections of all airside critical infrastructure. They are also involved in maintaining and mitigating the impact of the operation on the environment. Supporting the duty management teams we have roles providing technical advice and industry influence and expertise at our disposal. The technical competencies that individuals in the airside operations departments are required to hold are the foundation of the delivery of services and expertise to our business partners and passengers.

BAA provides competency training through a highly developed airside operations training scheme across all its airports which has set the benchmark for other airport groups around the world. Alongside this airside operations staff have a strong knowledge and awareness of all things relating to aircraft and aerodromes.

A significant part of the passenger experience is dependent upon a professional airside operation. BAA's airside operations teams hold responsibility for the safe arrival, prompt turnaround and on time departure of aircraft all of which have a lasting impression on the passenger. It is the professionalism and expertise of our teams that drive high standards of performance and delivery that meets the needs of our customers, the airlines and their passengers.

BAA meets these needs through the tenure of an aerodrome licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. Safety is therefore, at the heart of everything we do, whether it is carrying out a runway inspection at Gatwick or leading a snow clearing operation at Aberdeen. In each case BAA will have experienced, competent people whose actions are predicated on safety in everything we do.