Proposal Summary
Civil aviation is one of the strategic means of transport vital for the stable functioning of the modern globalized world. It provides individuals with an opportunity to reach various destination areas in short terms and with high levels of safety. This contributes to better global cooperation and intercourse. The sphere enjoys the phase of its fast evolution, transformation, and growth. Airports serve as vital hubs connecting different parts of the globe and enhancing cooperation at different levels (Cusick, Cortes and Rodrigues, 2017). However, the continuously increasing significance of aviation introduces the increased sophistication and new safety and security concerns.
Nowadays, airports are extremely complex units with multiple departments and systems needed to ensure the safety of flight, passengers, crew members, and specialists. Effective cooperation between all teams and groups is a key to excellence and the attainment of existing goals. However, the sophistication of tasks combined with the stably high terrorist threat introduce additional demands to the work of protection systems (Chakib, 2018). The strategic importance mentioned above means that the civil aviation sphere becomes the target of potential attacks to spread panic and havoc (EASA, 2020). For this reason, agencies and airlines focus on improving existing security frameworks and protecting critically important strategic areas.
Ramp safety is one of the most significant concerns for modern civil aviation. The airport apron, or flight line, is where aircraft are placed, unloaded, loaded, refueled, maintained, or examined (Benny, 2016). It involves multiple operations and activities, such as the movement of planes, vehicles, equipment, people, and specialists (Chakib, 2018). Moreover, contractors and workers of other organizations, such as police and fire staff, and engineers (ICAO, 2017). Because of these factors, workers and ramp operations might face a broad array of safety concerns and hazards (Ferguson and Nelson, 2013). Moreover, there is also a chance of being attacked by different radical groups. Under these conditions, there is a need for effective safety management systems (SMS) regulating the work of ramps.
The proposed research focuses on the problem of airport ramp safety as the critical factor influencing airports. Considering the complexity of operations performed in the area and its fundamental role, it is vital to establish a strategic approach and implement effective SMS leading to reduced risks, increased safety, and better work of the area. The UAE is selected as the background for the research as it is one of the fast-evolving nations with powerful airlines such as Emirates, one of the leaders in civil aviation focusing on security and safety of its operations.
The study delves into components of the effective and practical SMS and their integration into the work of an airport to ensure positive outcomes. It includes developing practical ramp safety management procedures, plans, and strategies, improved emergency management on the airport ramp, identification and management of airside hazards, and resistance to external threats. Regarding existing safety concerns, the proposed SMS should contribute to better security management. The project will focus on steps, requirements, and factors that should be considered when creating this framework and evaluating its effectiveness.
Topic Literature Review
The existing body of literature proves the critical importance of effective SMSs regarding the work and safety of ramp areas. For instance, Price and Forrest (2016) state that although the use of the apron is limited, it remains easier to access than the runway or other parts of the airport. Moreover, it contains multiple potential hazards that might precondition injuries or damage aircraft (IATA, no date). For this reason, the apron management service becomes responsible for managing all factors using the existing guidelines (ICAO, 2020). The effectiveness of these guidelines depends on the ability to consider all issues linked to the work of the ramp area and incorporate them into a single approach regulating its work and safety (Stolzer and Gogila, 2016). The fast-growing Middle Eastern region also recognizes the importance of effective SMSs and their influence on performance. It means that local carriers put much effort into developing safety measures to ensure better ramp area management and minimization of risks.
The UAE is one of the nations in the Middle East playing an active role in the international discourse and the development of aviation. The country has several carriers, such as Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Flydubai, following the major regulations offered by ICAO, IATA, and other agencies (ICAO, 2018). The companies are focused on protecting passengers and personnel, meaning that the effective management of the ramp area and introduction of effective systems become the top priority and given much attention. For instance, Emirates offers a specific training course for all specialists outlining all possible hazards and the ways to manage them effectively (Emirates, no date). This method helps to remain one of the safest airlines globally and contributes to the constant improvement of the existing approaches (ICAO, 2018). The UAE also cooperates with the ICAO to offer an effective Apron Management method that can be shared with other companies to improve outcomes and ensure the stable work of airports and the absence of serious hazards (ICAO, 2018). At the same time, the high speed of civil aviation’s rise means the constant emergence of new factors that might affect ramp operations. For this reason, most authors admit the existence of a potent SMS in the UAE; however, they also emphasize the necessity to focus on the ramp area as the potentially dangerous aspect.
Objectives
The research has several objectives that should be achieved:
- to study the current body of literature to form the theoretical framework of the research
- to determine the component of SMS in the current setting
- to identify the major risk factors and hazards on airport rams, specifically in the UAE
- to outline practical ramp safety procedures that can be a part of an SMS
- to determine the strategic approach to develop a practical SMS
- to evaluate the effectiveness of existing management systems and their applicability to specific settings
- to discuss the correlation between aviation safety and an effective safety management system
Project Outcomes
It is expected that following the goals formulated above, it is possible to improve the overall understanding of the current demands for airport ramp safety. This area is vital for the stable work of civil aviation, and for this reason, the research will promote a better vision of the nature of hazards peculiar to the area and how they can be managed to avoid traumas or substantial damage done to aircraft or passengers. Finally, the study will help outline the process of creating and introducing a practical SMS regarding UAE civil aviation.
Why are you interested in the project?
First, my master’s degree is in Safety Aviation, meaning that I am interested in systems and methods to improve the existing approaches to managing operations and establish a safer and more protected framework. Second, civil aviation grows every year, introducing the need for new approaches to dealing with emerging risks. The ability to work with new challenges and resolve them using innovative solutions and systems is vital for my future career and professional development. Under these conditions, analyzing the work of airport ramp and SMS that can be used to improve it, I can generate better and more relevant that can be applied to new projects.
What are the key questions the project attempts to answer?
The proposed study focuses on the following questions:
- What are the major risks, hazards, and threats peculiar to the ramp area?
- How should operations in the ramp area be managed to ensure high safety for all participants?
- What are the components of an effective SMS?
- What factors should be considered to develop a practical safety management system?
- How can an SMS be integrated into the work of an airport?
- What are the benefits of a stable and well-thought-out system in a long and short-term perspective?
Answers to these questions will help to acquire the relevant information about the work of airports and ways to improve their safety.
What Research Methods do you intend to use?
The nature of the research and the objectives formulated in the previous section influence the choice of the research strategy vital for effective data collection and analysis. The correctly selected methodology contributes to the increased credibility of findings and reliability of results (Creswell and Creswell, 2017). Under these conditions, methods and research philosophy is the basis of any study helping to attain the outlined goals. The proposed investigation uses the inductive approach and the qualitative method to collect data, analyze it, and formulate specific conclusions.
The inductive paradigm helps to formulate a specific theory or assumption using the results of observations or data collected during the research (Žukauskas, Vveinhardt and Andriukaitienė, 2018). For this reason, the given model is useful in situations demanding the in-depth evaluation of a particular phenomenon, case, or setting, to come up with final thoughts. Following the paradigm, it is possible to create a solid support for various assumptions and prove them using facts acquired from observations or different sources (Merriam and Tisdell, 2015). For this reason, the research will benefit from using inductive reasoning to formulate the approach to creating an effective SMS by using information from different sources.
The research also uses the qualitative research method to collect data and determine the components of effective SMSs, their influence on the work of airport and ramp area, and conclude about how to integrate this system into real-life conditions. This approach promotes a better understanding of a certain question using the information linked to them and collecting attitudes and experiences related to the issue under investigation (Merriam and Tisdell, 2015). Using the qualitative method, it is also possible to collect airport workers’ opinions regarding hazards and ways to manage them. For this reason, this framework is taken as the preferable tool for the study.
The study uses both primary and secondary sources. For this reason, interviews and surveys are viewed as two central data collection methods. First, interviewing specialists, it is possible to collect relevant and up-to-date information about the current approaches to SMS, problems, and potential improvements (Creswell and Creswell, 2017). Second, the survey is a potent qualitative research tool helping an investigator to gather the primary data about the phenomenon under research (Creswell and Creswell, 2017). For this reason, the study presupposes creating a questionnaire distributed among specific groups to acquire information vital for improving the understanding of SMS and ways to improve it.
Finally, the project contains the literature review as which helps to create the theoretical framework for the research and discuss the most topical and relevant issues. Analyzing the existing body of literature, it is possible to improve the understanding of the research problem and acquire various perspectives on it (Merriam and Tisdell, 2015). Considering the fact that civil aviation is one of the popular topics, the literature review section incorporates knowledge from multiple sources to create a basis for the discussion and use credible facts to support existing assumptions.
Altogether, the proposed study rests on methodology presupposing the use of the inductive paradigm combined with the qualitative data collection tools. Because one of the research goals is to collect, analyze, and structure information about SMSs, this framework is viewed as an applicable one. Adhering to this research paradigm, it is possible to justify results and explain how specific approaches can be used to establish a working system helping employees and other individuals to avoid injuries or risks of being damaged. The qualitative methods also allow using surveys or other data collection tools to work with populations involved in the process and gather relevant evidence about how the ramp area functions and what measures can help to secure it.
What primary and/or secondary data sources do you intend to use? Please provide draft chapter heading for your report
The paper will benefit from using various sources. First, the agencies’ reports linked to the current safety management systems will be employed. They will help to improve understanding of the issue. Second, airlines’ reports will be used to collect data. Finally, scholarly articles and books will be investigated to find the needed information.
List of References
Benny, D. (2016) General aviation security: aircraft, hangars, fixed-base operations, flight schools, and airports. London: CRC Press.
Chakib, M. (2018) Safety management system. Web.
Creswell, J.W. and Creswell, J.D. (2017) Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 5th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Cusick, S., Cortes, A. and Rodrigues, C. (2017) Commercial aviation safety, 6th edn. London: McGraw Hill Education.
Emirates (no date) Prepare for take-off. Web.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (2020) Annual safety review. Web.
Ferguson, M. and Nelson, S. (2013) Aviation safety: a balanced industry approach. London: Cengage Learning.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) (no date) Safety report. Web.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (2017) Aviation security manual, 10th edn. Montreal: International Civil Aviation Organization.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (2018) Implementation of aerodrome safety priorities and objectives in the MID region. Web.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (2020) Safety report. Web.
Merriam, S. and Tisdell, E. (2015) Qualitative research: a guide to design and implementation. 4th edn. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Price, J. and Forrest, J. (2016) Practical airport operations, safety, and emergency management: protocols for today and the future. New York, NY: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Stolzer, A. and Gogila, J. (2016) Safety management systems in aviation, 2nd edn. London: Routledge.
Žukauskas, P., Vveinhardt, J. and Andriukaitienė, R. (2018) Philosophy and paradigm of scientific research. Web.