Pushback aircraft

URN: PPLAOG49
Business Sectors (Suites): Aviation Operations on the Ground
Developed by: People 1st
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard is about aircraft pushback. This involves preparing the aircraft, stand/ramp area and aircraft pushback equipment. This also involves following your organisation’s, the airport/airfield's and the airline’s aircraft pushback procedures at all times, whilst adhering to the relevant legal requirements and maintaining the safety of other airside users. You must know and understand your organisation's and the airport/airfield's low visibility, adverse weather and emergency procedures.

This standard is for those working in an airport/airfield who are responsible for pushing back aircraft.

When you have completed this standard, you will be able to demonstrate your 
knowledge of and ability to:
Pushback aircraft


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

1. Prepare to pushback aircraft in line with organisational, airport/airfield and airline procedures, and relevant legal requirements 2. Prepare and use the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and aircraft pushback equipment in line with organisational and airport/airline procedures 3. Prepare the aircraft and stand/ramp area in line with organisational and airport/airline procedures 4. Pushback aircraft in line with organisational, airport/airfield and airline procedures and relevant legal requirements 5. Remain aware of other aircraft and airside activity 6. Recognise and respond to signals from aircrew and ground crew in line with organisational, airport/airfield and airline procedures 7. Maintain your own, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ health, safety and welfare when conducting aircraft pushback procedures 8. Complete the required documentation for aircraft pushback in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures and relevant legal requirements

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures, the airline’s procedures and relevant legal requirements for aircraft pushback, and the importance of adhering to them at all times 2. The geographical layout of the stand and airfield 3. The personal protective equipment (PPE) required for conducting aircraft pushback procedures 4. The types, capabilities and characteristics of the aircraft you are pushing back 5. The types, capabilities and characteristics of equipment used to conduct aircraft pushback procedures, including vehicle warning systems 6. How to prepare the aircraft and stand/ramp area 7. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures for preparing and using aircraft pushback equipment  8. The types of health and safety risks to yourself, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ when conducting aircraft pushback procedures 9. The importance of being aware of adjacent stand and aircraft activity when conducting aircraft pushback procedures 10. How to recognise and respond to standard signals from aircrew and ground crew 11. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's low visibility and adverse weather procedures 12. How to maintain your own, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ health, safety and welfare when conducting aircraft pushback procedures 13. When and how to activate your organisation's emergency stop procedures 14. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements for completing documentation in relation to aircraft pushback

Scope/range


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary

PPE
Personal Protective Equipment

Your Organisation
This is the company you work for or are contracted to

Organisation’s Procedures
These are the procedures your organisation has in place to ensure compliance with relevant rules, regulations, instructions, policies, procedures, legislation and laws relevant to the activity
*
Aviation terms, phrases and hand signals
* have been standardised to improve communication and safety across the global aviation industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) set out the standard for nonverbal communication and guidance signals in the IATA Standards in the Airport Handling Manual (AHM) and IATA Ground Handling Manual (IGOM). The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) set out the common language used for verbal communication including radiotelephony, the phonetic alphabet and phraseology to be used.


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

2026

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

GoSkills

Original URN

GSKAOG49

Relevant Occupations

Transport Drivers and Operatives, Transport Operations and Maintenance

SOC Code

8233

Keywords

pushback, aircraft, tug