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24622495 AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION AIC
Aeronautical : VIDDYAYX SERVICES Sl. No.18/2019
E-Mail: DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION 28th October, 2019
[email protected] OPPOSITE SAFDARJUNG AIRPORT
Fax 011-24616783 NEW DELHI-110003

File No.09/07/2019-IR

This AIC is issued for dissemination of the decisions contained in the Ministry of Civil
Aviation’s letter No. AV-24011/3/2019-AAI-MOCA dated 06.09.2019.

This supersedes AIC 10/2018.

(Arun Kumar)
Director General of Civil Aviation

GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR PROVIDING GROUND HANDLING

SERVICES AT AIRPORTS OTHER THAN THOSE BELONGING
TO THE AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

1. Introduction

1.1 Definitions

(a) “apron” means a defined area of an airport intended to accommodate aircraft

for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refuelling, parking
or maintenance;

(b) “ground handling” means services necessary for an aircraft’s arrival at, and
departure from, an airport other than air traffic control and it includes–
(i) ramp handling including activities as specified at Annexure ‘A’;
(ii) traffic handling including activities as specified at Annexure ‘B’; and
(iii) any other activity specified by the Central Government from time to time;

(c) “Ground Handling Agency” means an entity, with distinct and independent
existence at the airport established for the purpose of providing ground handling
service at an airport and security cleared by the Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security and duly appointed by the airport operator;

(d) “manoeuvring area” means the part of an airport or an aerodrome or civil

enclave to be used for take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft but does not
include apron;

(e) “movement area” means part of an airport or an aerodrome or civil enclave

intended for surface movement of aircraft including the manoeuvring area and
apron;
 (f) “regular employee” means a person employed and paid for a regular work
directly by the employer without the intervention of a contractor; and does not
include contract labourers as defined in the Contract Labour (Regulation and
Abolition) Act, 1970 (37 of 1970);

(g) “royalty” means compensation, consideration or fee paid for providing ground
handling services at an airport payable to the airport operator in addition to
applicable land or space rentals;

(h) “self-handling” means the ground handling services relating to its own aircraft
or helicopter by an airline or helicopter operator or its hundred percent owned
subsidiary through its own regular employees, using equipment owned or taken
on lease;

(i) “terminal building” means the building or area of the airport or civil enclave
which is used for embarkation or disembarkation or processing of passengers;

1.2 The Airports Authority of India (General Management, Entry for Ground
Handling Services) Regulations, 2000 and Airports Authority of India (General
Management, Entry for Ground Handling Services) Regulations, 2007, have been
made under Section 42 of the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994 and thus are
applicable to the airports managed by the Airports Authority of India. With the
restructuring of certain airports and development of a few Greenfield airports in the
private sector, it has become imperative for the Central Government to lay down the
eligibility criteria for various agencies to undertake ground handling services at non-
AAI airports. The number of such agencies to be permitted at each airport is also to
be determined by the Government having regard to all the relevant factors such as
demand for such services, available infrastructure and competitive environment,
without compromising the safety and security aspects.

1.3 Rule 92 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 provides that the licensed public aerodromes
shall, while providing ground handling services themselves, ensure a competitive
environment and allow the ground handling service providers permitted by the Central
Government to provide ground handling services at such aerodromes without any
restriction. These ground handling service providers shall, however, be subject to
security clearance of the Central Government. As such, it is for the Central
Government to decide the agencies who can provide ground handling services at
various aerodromes and also the eligibility criteria for such service providers.

2. Eligibility Criteria for Ground Handling Service Providers

While the Airports Authority of India would promulgate the necessary

regulations, with the previous approval of the Central Government, under the Airports
Authority of India Act, 1994, with respect to provision of ground handling services at
the airports under their control, it has been decided by the Central Government that
the following entities shall be eligible to undertake ground handling services at airports
other than those belonging to the Airports Authority of India:-

2.1 All domestic scheduled airline operators and scheduled helicopter operators
will be free to carry out self-handling at all airports including civil enclaves.

2.2 A foreign airline may undertake self-handling in respect of passenger and

baggage handling activities excluding security functions listed in paragraph 1
 of AVSEC Order No. 03/2009 dated the 21st August, 2009 [enclosed as
Annexure-C] at the airport terminals restricted to the passenger check-in at pre
security hold area, at all the airports except civil enclaves.

2.3 At the cargo terminal except civil enclave, all cargo aircraft operator may
undertake self handling excluding security functions listed in paragraph 1 of
AVSEC Order No. 03/2009 referred to in sub-paragraph 2.2.

2.4 At the airport having annual passenger throughput of ten million passengers
per annum or above, the airport operator shall ensure that there will be three
ground handling agencies including that of, – (a) the airport operator or its joint
venture or its hundred percent owned subsidiary; (b) a joint venture or a
subsidiary of the Air India; and (c) any other ground handling agencies
appointed by the airport operator through a transparent bidding process.

2.5 At the airport having annual passenger throughput of less than ten million
passengers per annum, based on the traffic output and airside and terminal
building capacity, the airport operator may decide on the number of ground
handling agencies, not exceeding three, including that of, – (a) the airport
operator or its joint venture or its hundred percent owned subsidiary; (b)
a Joint Venture or a subsidiary of Air India; and (c) any other ground handling
agency appointed by the airport operator through a transparent bidding
process.

2.6 A ground handling agency, with foreign ownership of fifty percent or more of
its paid-up capital shall not be allowed to undertake ground handling activities
at the civil enclave.

2.7 At all airports, the joint venture or the subsidiary of Air India shall match the
lowest royalty paid by the other ground handling agencies, as long as majority
share in such entity is with the Government.

2.8 The provisions of sub-paragraphs 2.4, 2.5 and 2.7 relating to subsidiary or joint
venture of the Air India shall apply so long as such ground handling agency
remains a subsidiary or a fifty-fifty joint venture of a public sector undertaking
and in case such ground handling agency ceases to be subsidiary or a fifty-
fifty joint venture of a public sector undertaking, the provisions of sub-
paragraphs 2.4, 2.5 and 2.7 shall continue to apply to such ground handling
agency at all such airports where it is operating as a ground handling agency,
for a period of eighty four months from the date such ground handling agency
ceased to be a subsidiary or a joint venture of a public sector undertaking.

2.9 No royalty is payable in case of self-handling.

2.10 All airlines, joint ventures, subsidiaries, ground handling agencies shall enter
into an agreement with the airport operator for the satisfactory observance of
performance of standards as may be mutually acceptable.
3. Entry into terminal building or movement area

Except as provided in rule 90 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the entities permitted
to undertake ground handling services at airports in accordance with paragraph 2 shall
also be allowed to enter and remain in the terminal building or movement area.

4. Security Protocol

4.1 All ground handling services shall be provided only through the regular
employees of the entities permitted under paragraph 2.

4.2 No hiring of employees through handling contractor or manpower supplier shall

be permitted.

4.3 An airline and agency allowed to carry out ground handling services at the
airport shall ensure compliance to security provisions as required under any
law for the time being in force; and

4.4 The ground handling agency, unless it acquire the status of regulated agent or
otherwise authorised to do so by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, shall
not undertake the security functions listed in paragraph 1 of AVSEC Order
referred to in sub-paragraph 2.2 of paragraph 2 hereinabove.

5. Equipment

5.1 At all airports, in order to overcome space and time constraints, the airport
operator shall provide adequate number of common user terminal equipment
(CUTE) and common user self-service (CUSS).

5.2 At the airport having annual passenger throughput of one and a half million
passengers per annum or above, the airport operator shall provide adequate
number of baggage reconciliation system:
Provided that where the annual passenger throughput is less than one and a
half million passengers per annum, the airport operator may decide the
number of baggage reconciliation system as may be necessary.

5.3 All agencies concerned shall ensure the use of state-of-art equipment and best
practices in line with the International Air Transport Association Airport
Handling Manual; and

5.4 The airport operator shall, as far as may be, provide adequate parking space
for the equipment required for ground handling purpose, within the airport
premises on mutually agreed terms and conditions.

6. Coming into Force

6.1 All airport operators shall complete the process of selection of requisite
number of ground handling agencies by the 31st October, 2018 unless
extended by Government of India.

6.2 The ground handling agency so appointed shall commence its operation
expeditiously and in any case not later than the 30th June, 2019.
6.3 Airport where duly appointed ground handling agency is already in place and
where any agency which is not permitted under paragraph 2 is operating, such
agencies shall not be allowed to continue after the 31st October, 2018 unless
extended by Government of India.

6.4 Any agency which is not permitted under paragraph 2 and carrying out the
ground handling activities on the commencement of this Circular, at an airport
or civil enclave other than those referred to in sub-paragraph 6.3, shall be
allowed to continue till the 30th June, 2019 or till thirty days from the
commencement of operations by the ground handling agencies duly appointed
under this Circular, whichever is earlier.

6.5 The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security shall issue airport entry permits to the
existing ground handling agencies till such time their operations are allowed to
continue under this Circular.

6.6 This policy shall come into force with immediate effect.
 ANNEXURE- ‘A’

RAMP HANDLING

1. Aircraft handling
1.1 Attendance
1.2 Marshalling
1.3 Parking
1.4 Starting
1.5 Safety measures
1.6 Mooring of Aircraft
1.7 Ramp to flight deck communication

2. Aircraft servicing
2.1 Liaison for fuelling and defueling
2.2 Liaison with suppliers for replenishing of oil and other fluids
2.3 Cabin Equipment
2.4 Routine and Non-Routine services
2.5 Cooling and Heating
2.6 Storage of cabin material

3. Aircraft Cleaning

3.1 Exterior cleaning

3.2 Interior cleaning
3.3 Toilet service
3.4 Water service

4. Loading or Unloading

4.1 Loading and unloading of passenger baggage

4.2 Transhipment of passenger baggage
4.3 Operation of Loading or Unloading equipment
4.4 Position and removing of passenger stairs or bridges
4.5 Emplane or Deplane passengers
4.6 Break or Make-up of baggages
4.7 Bussing of passengers or crew
4.8 Bulk loading or unloading of baggage
4.9 Catering ramp handling
4.10 Load control
4.11 Communication
4.12 Flight operations
4.13 Crew administration
5. Cargo handling services
5.1 Loading, off-loading, export, import and transhipment cargo on or from the
aircraft
5.2 Mail handling services
5.3 Operate or provide or arrange essential equipment for handling of cargo
5.4 Transhipment of cargo
5.5 Palletisation or containerisation of cargo
5.6 Break-up or Make-up of cargo container or unit load device
5.7 Bulk loading or unloading
5.8 Cargo and mail handling
5.9 Customs control
5.10 Documentation handling
5.11 Physical handling outbound or inbound
5.12 Transfer or transit cargo
5.13 Post office mail

6. Support Services

6.1 Accommodation
6.2 Automation or Computer systems
6.3 Unit load device control
6.4 Fuel farm (Depot)
6.5 Ramp fuelling or defueling operations
6.6 Surface transport
6.7 Catering services – liaison and administration
 ANNEXURE- ‘B’

TRAFFIC HANDLING

1. Terminal Services
1.1 Handling documents and load control
1.2 Passenger and baggage handling at the airport terminals
1.3 Cargo handling services at the airport terminals
1.4 Mail handling services at the airport terminal
1.5 Traffic services at the airport terminals including passenger check-in

2. Flight Operations
2.1 Inform the carrier of any known project affecting the operational services and
facilities made available to its aircraft in the areas of responsibility
2.2 Flight preparation at the airport of departure
2.3 Flight preparation at a point different form the airport of departure
2.4 In-flight assistance
2.5 Post flight activities
2.6 In-flight re-dispatch
2.7 Communication system associated with Ground Handling
2.8 Material handling

3. Surface Transport
3.1 Arrangement for the transportation of passengers or baggage and cargo
between separate terminals at the same airport
3.2 Arrangements for passengers or crew transport together with their baggage
between airport and city or other agreed points

4. Representational Services
4.1 Liaison with local authorities
4.2 Information to interested parties, movement of carrier aircraft
4.3 Disbursement of payment on behalf of the carriers at all airports
4.4 Supervision and administration services
 ANNEXURE- ‘C’

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

NO.CAS-6(1)/2008/Div.I (Sec.functions)
BUREAU OF CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY
(MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
A' WING (I-Ill Floor), JANPATH BHAVAN
JANPATH, NEW DELHI
Dated: 21/08/2009

AVSEC Order No. 03/2009

Sub: Security Functions to be carried out by aircraft operators.

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 5A of Aircraft Act 1934 delegated to

him vide Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation Notification No. 1797 dated
July 3, 1997, read with para-4 of DGCA Circular No. 9/1/2002-IR dated 28/9/07; and
Regulations 6 and 7 of the Airports Authority of India (General Management, Entry for
Ground Handling Services) Regulations, 2007 issued vide Gazette of India
(Extraordinary) Notification NO.AAI/LEGAL/GHREG/2007 dated 18.10.2007, the
Commissioner of Security (Civil Aviation), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS),
for the purpose of securing the safety of aircraft operations, directs that the following
activities pertaining to aircraft operations shall be treated as Aircraft Operators'
Aviation Security Functions:

i) Access control to the aircraft;

ii) Aircraft security search/Security check during normal as well as bomb threat
situation;
iii) Screening of registered /unaccompanied baggage, cargo, mail and company
stores etc. ;
iv) Surveillance of screened baggage till acceptance at check-in counters;
v) Security control of the checked baggage from the point it is taken into the
charge of aircraft operator till loading into aircraft;
vi) Passengers baggage reconciliation/identification
vii) Security of baggage tag, boarding cards and flight documents;
viii) Security of mishandled/unaccompanied/transit /transfer baggage;
ix) Secondary checks at ladder point of aircraft;
x) Security of catering items from pre-setting stage till loading into aircraft;
xi) Security control of express cargo, courier bags, cargo, company stores,
parcels, mail bags and escorting from city side up to aircraft;
xii) Receiving, carriage and retrieval of security removed articles;
xiii) Any other security functions notified by the Commissioner from time to time.

2. Despite the fact that the above activities are carried out on ground at the
airports, keeping in view the AVSEC requirements under the current surcharged
security scenario, these AVSEC functions cannot be mixed-up with other ground
handling activities, and these AVSEC functions shall not be allowed by an aircraft
operator/ airport operator to be undertaken by a Ground Handling Agency.
3. The above mentioned security functions shall be carried out by the concerned
airlines' security personnel who possess all competencies required to perform their
duties and are appropriately trained and certified according to the requirements of the
approved Security Programme of respective Aircraft Operator and the National Civil
Aviation Security Programme of India.

4. Foreign airlines may enter into agreement with Indian Air carriers having
international operation from that airport only after specific approval from the BCAS in
each case.

5. As approved by Ministry of Civil Aviation (Gol) vide letter no. AV-

24013/004/2007-AAI dated 20th March 2008, the In-line screening of hold baggage to
be transported by an aircraft operator from the airports in India, shall be carried out by
trained and BCAS certified screeners of respective airport operator or NACIL or their
JV at airports having In-line baggage Inspection System.

6. Screening and security control of Cargo consignments may also be undertaken

by trained and BCAS certified screeners of Regulated Agents approved by the BCAS
in accordance with the instructions issued by the BCAS from time to time.

7. The responsibility for all security related functions shall be with the airlines
concerned. For this purpose, a security coordinator shall be designated by the
respective airlines at each airport from where they shall have operations.

8. This order supersedes all instructions (except BCAS Cir. No. 4/2007) on the
subject and shall come into force with immediate effect. Violation of this order will
attract legal action under section 11A of Aircraft Act, 1934.

This issues with the approval of Commissioner of Security (CA)

Sd/-
(M. Malaviya)
I.P.S
Addl. Commissioner of Security (CA)