S.A. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
REGIONAL AERODROME EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE / 1

Regional Airport Classification Structure and Training Needs

Acknowledgements

The “Regional Airport Classification Structure and Training Needs” project was conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA) of SouthAustralia with funding from the Local Government Research and Development Scheme.

The LGA would like to acknowledge the team of people responsible for the conduct of theproject.

Robert Wallace, LGA, Industrial Relations Advisor who had overallresponsibility for the guidance, management and coordination of the project.

Rachael Scott, consultant, who undertook the consultation, informationgathering, surveying and final reporting.

Information and input was sought from Local Government Risk Services, DC Grant, DC Lower Eyre Peninsula and the City of Whyalla.

REGIONAL AERODROME EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE

REGIONAL AERODROME EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A review of the current the South Australian Municipal Salaried Officers (SAMSO) and SA Local Government Employees (LGE) awards and their employee classification structures as they relate to regional aerodrome and airport operations was undertaken with R&D funding.

The review was to establish firstly if there was a need, and secondly to make recommendations to a common employee classification structure specific to South Australian Local Government employees workings in regional aerodromes and airports.

It was found in this review that the roles of Technical, Administrative, Compliance and Managerial employees in SA regional aerodromes, are sufficiently supported by the SAMSOaward.

This was on the contrary for role of ‘Groundsman’ covered by the LGE award.

Therefore a new classification structure covering the role of Municipal Employee, commonly known as Groundsman in aerodromes, was drafted for further consultation.

It is proposed to call this classification structure the SA Local Government RegionalAerodrome Ground Services OfficerEmployees Classification Structureabbreviated toGSO.

The GSOemployee classification structure is an amalgamation of the classification structures of the;

  • SA Local Government Employees (LGE) Award, & the
  • Federal Airport Employees (FAE) Award.

The proposedGSO employee classification structure has eleven (11) levels or grades like the FAE award.

The key differences in the proposed GSO employee classification structure comparedto the current classification structures under the LGE award are;

  1. Changing the occupation/job namefrom Municipal Employee (ME) to Ground Services Officer (GSO) as a way to quickly identify aerodrome specific occupations.
  1. Increased grades allowable for the role of Ground Services Officer (GSO) (Groundsman). This is in line with the FAE award which allows for more opportunity for “specific approval of the [appropriate] Manager[s] concerned”, and/or recognition of advanced training, &/or recognition of employees ‘exercising an equivalent level of skill’.
  1. The GSO classification to follow has aerodrome/airport specific indicative tasks & competencies to be performed in the job roles of;
  2. Ground Services Officer(GSO) levels 1 to 11– incorporating ME grades 1-8 andthe duties of;
  3. Aviation Security,
  4. Aerodrome Works Safety Officer (WSO) duties, &
  5. Aerodrome Reporting Officer (ARO) duties.

In addition aTraining Needs Analysis is included which;

•Lists a non-exhaustive selection of aviation industry training competencies and;

•commentary on the current RTO’s.

INTRODUCTION

Methodology

A review of the current SAMSO and LGE awards & their employee classification structures as they relate to regional Aerodromeand Airport operations was undertaken with R&D Funding.

The review was to establish firstly if there was a need, & secondly to make recommendations to a common employee classification structure specific to South Australian Local Government employees workings in regional aerodromes & airports.

A review of the current Local Government Industry (Federal) Award (LGIA) and the Federal Airports Employees (FAE) Award were also undertaken.

A survey seeking a situation analysis on an aerodrome by aerodrome basis was prepared for circulation to SA Councils with aerodromes.

Efforts to consult with Interstate and SA regional airports/aerodromes were made.

Information was sough fromtraining providers in aerodromesafety and security operations.

Contact was made and information was sought with CASA and the AustralianDepartment of Infrastructure & Regional Development issuing requirements for Aviation Security.

Findings

It was found in this review that the roles of Technical, Administrative, Compliance and Managerial employees in SA regional aerodromes, are sufficiently supported by the SAMSO Award.

This was on the contrary for role of Ground Services Officer (GSO) commonly known as Groundsman covered by the LGE Award.

The role of a Groundsman working in aerodromes involves aviation specific skills sets and competencies significantly related to aerodrome safety and security in addition to the Municipal Employee roles specified in the LGE award. This includes Aerodrome Reporting Officer (ARO), Aerodrome Works Safety Officer (WSO) and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) skill sets, Aviation Security training & certification, and other competencies such as ‘drive on the air side’ specific to aviation operations.

Therefore, with particular reference to the role of Groundsman covered by the LGE award, or GSO as proposed, it was found that a new classification structure and a further review of remuneration be recommended.

Recommendation:

That the proposed classification structure be titled the SA Local Government Regional Aerodrome Ground Operations & Services Employees Classification Structure abbreviated to GOS.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that there be an increase in the grades allowable for the role of Ground Services Officer (GSO) (Groundsman) from grades 1 to 8 to levels 1 to 11.

The proposed increase in grades allowable to the GSO is also, to some extent, a result of the aerodrome categorisation according the CASA standards. That is if the aerodrome is Certified, Registered or not certified or registered but served by RPT or by charter operations at least once per week.

Also, to some extent, one must consider the category of security controlled and screened airport operations.

Most significantly, it was found through consultation, the view that a Groundsman operating in a certified aerodrome is an “Airport Manager in training” & that the remuneration was not truly representative of the level of responsibility, complexity and autonomy of the role.

These factors inherently create more and varying levels of operational complexity from aerodrome to aerodrome & therefore it is the view that a classification structure and remuneration should also allow for this variety.

Recommendation:

Should the proposal to increase grades allowable for the role of GSO from 1 to 8 to 1 to 11 be commonly accepted among Councils, it is recommended that further work be undertaken to calculate the wage rate/work relativities by an ‘audit’ of the skill levels of the different operators at relevant aerodromes.

Last words

It is important to note that all Aerodromes are different as they have site specific details and complexities, types of operations and management structures.1

Such is the case for ARO’s & WSO’s, and where there is no ARO or WSO the Aerodrome Operator, whose duties are directly related to aerodrome safety. Each of their respective functions can vary in complexity from aerodrome to aerodrome, even if they are categorised the same as Certified, Registered or not, and this variety is not always in direct relationship with aerodrome size and traffic.2

Therefore it is highly recommended that in determining the appropriate classification level for a GSO, particularly one undertaking ARO and WSO duties, that consideration be given to the level of complexity and responsibility of the role on a site specific basis, including on whetherthe aerodrome is certified, registered or not certified or registered but served by RPT or by charter operations at least once per week.

1. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)- Manual of Standards – Part 139 Aerodromes – Chapter 10: Operating Standards for Certified Aerodromes.

2.CASA – Circular 139-13(0)

SA Local Government Regional Aerodrome Ground Operations & Services Employees Classification Structure

Notes:

Ground Services Officer (GSO) – incorporating the functions of Aerodrome Reporting Officers (ARO) and Works Safety Officers (WSO):

As the roles of ARO, WSO and Reporting Officer are most often not the substantive role of any employee it is assumed that Councils regularly use staff from within other departments on a rotating roster basis and remunerate in accordance with the mixed function/higher duties provisions of the LGE award.

Tofollow are comprehensive lists of the indicative tasks and competencies of ARO’s and WSO’s taken directly from MOS Part 139 - Aerodromes Chapters 10 Operating Standards for Certified Aerodromes ad

CASA – Circular 139-13(0) Training of aerodrome reporting officers and works safety officers.

We have listed the indicative tasks and competencies of an employee undertaking ARO &/or WSO duties under the headings of Certified, Registered or other than these two categories to assist the site-by-site based assessment of the appropriate classification level.

Aerodrome Reporting Officers (ARO) and Works Safety Officers (WSO)

General

ARO & WSO duties are directly related to aerodrome safety and include:

  1. Personnel that carry out the routine serviceability inspections of the aerodrome movementarea, aerodrome lights and Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS);
  2. Person el that are authorised to make reports of aerodrome reportable changes to the Noticeto Airmen (NOTAM) office; and
  3. Personnel appointed for the purpose of ensuring the safety of aerodrome works.

Persons assigned to duties (1) and (2) are generally referred to as AROs and thoseassigned to (3) as WSOs.

Aerodrome Reporting Officer

Serviceability inspections and the reporting of changes in aerodrome conditions are oftenrelated functions.

An ARO can perform both the inspection and reporting functions, however this may not be the case in each aerodrome.

This may influence what classification level is applied to an employee on a site by site basis.

Serviceability inspections are a core function of the ARO.

Depending on the size of the aerodrome, the serviceability inspection and reportingfunctions may be assigned to different persons and/or at different times within a normal weekly or fortnightly roster.

At a small aerodrome, the same person may haveto carry out all the functions.

At larger aerodromes, the serviceability inspections and thereporting functions become more complex, often involving more people.

At smaller aerodromes, inspecting, reporting and managing aerodrome works safety(ARO and WSO roles) may be undertaken by the same person and would typically cover:

•an inspection of the movement area to check its surface condition (including for thepresence of foreign objects);

•an inspection of aerodrome markers and markings, lighting, wind direction indicatorsand ground signals;

•an inspection for any obstacles infringing the take-off, approach and transitionalsurfaces;

•an inspection for any birds or animals on or near the movement area;

•an inspection of any measures to control the inadvertent entry of persons or animals intothe movement area (including aerodrome fencing);

•an empirical assessment of the bearing strength of unrated runway pavements;

•an empirical assessment of the runway strip or each runway strip where the runwayconcerned is not marked and the whole runway strip may be used for aircraft operations;

•a check of the aerodrome’s frequency confirmation system (if any);

•a check of whether any NOTAMS for the aerodrome are current and accurate.

Each of these functions will potentially vary in complexity from aerodrome toaerodrome, and not always in direct relationship with aerodrome size and traffic.

Works Safety Officer

Not all aerodrome works require a formalMethod of Working Plan (MOWP) however elements of the functions listed below will stillapply.

A WSO must (in accordance with MOS Part 139 -Aerodromes Chapters 10 and 12) be present “at all times” whilst the aerodrome is open to aircraftoperations.

The functions of a WSO include (but are not limited to):

  • having sound knowledge of the MOWP and ensuring that the works are conducted inaccordance with the MOWP;

•where applicable, ensuring timely issue of NOTAM as set out in the MOWP;

•where applicable, liaising with air traffic and ground control personnel on a regular basiswhen work is in progress;

•liaising with the works organisation, on a regular basis, regarding any matters necessaryto ensure the safety of aircraft operations and aerodrome personnel;

•ensuring unserviceable areas, temporary obstructions and the limits of the works area are

correctly marked and lit in accordance with the applicable MOWP;

•ensuring that vehicles, plant and equipment are properly marked and lit;

•ensuring that access routes to works areas as set out in the MOWP are clearly marked

and lit;

•ensuring that excavation is carried out in accordance with the MOWP, and in particular,

so as to avoid damage or loss of calibration to any underground power or control cable

associated with a precision approach and landing system or navigation aid;

•immediately reporting to the NOTAM Office any incident or damage to facilities likely

to affect the safety of aircraft;

•ensuring that the movement area is safe for normal aircraft operations following removal

of vehicles, plant equipment and personnel from the works area; and

•ensuring that floodlighting or any other lighting required for carrying out the works, is

shielded so as not to present a hazard to aircraft operations.

•Use of radio, and

•Supervise the safety of aerodrome works.

Ground Services Officer – Aerodrome Reporting Officer (ARO) - Certified Aerodrome –

In smaller aerodromes the same person can also carry outworks safety officer (WSO) functions as listed belowwill include:

  • Sound knowledge of the physical characteristics of the aerodrome movement area;
  • Sound knowledge of the aerodrome markings
  • Sound knowledge of the essential aerodrome safety equipment;
  • An understanding of the aerodrome information included in ERSA (Enroute Supplement Australia (AIP)- Aeronautical Information Publication);
  • Sound knowledge of the aerodrome emergency procedures.
  • Inspection and reporting on the physical characteristics and conditions of the aerodrome;
  • Inspection and reporting on the aerodrome lighting systems;
  • Inspection and reporting on theaerodrome Obstacle Limitation Surfaces(OLS);
  • Authorised to initiate and make reports to the Notice of Airmen office (a NOTAM);
  • Use of radio.

Ground Services Officer – Works Safety Officer (WSO) - Certified Aerodrome –

Essential skills & competencies include

  • Ensure the safety of aerodrome works
  • inspect and report on the physical characteristics and conditions of the aerodrome;
  • inspect and report on aerodrome lighting systems;
  • inspect and report on the OLS;
  • initiating a NOTAM;
  • use of radio, and
  • supervise the safety of aerodrome works

Functions of a Works Safety Officer

  • Ensure the safety of aircraft operations in accordance with the standards for aerodrome works and the applicable MOWP;
  • Ensure that, where applicable, the aerodrome works are notified by issue of a NOTAM and that the text of each NOTAM is exactly as set out in the applicable MOWP;
  • Supply the air-traffic controller, on a daily basis, with whatever information is necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft operations;
  • Discuss with the works organisation, on a daily basis, any matters necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft operations;
  • Ensure that unserviceable portions of the movement area, temporary obstructions, and the limits of the works area are correctly marked and lit in accordance with MOS requirements, and the applicable MOWP;
  • Ensure that the vehicles, plant and equipment carrying out aerodrome works are properly marked and lit or are under works safety officer supervision or within properly marked and lit works area;
  • Ensure that all other requirements of the directions and MOWP relating to vehicles, plant, equipment and materials are complied with;
  • Ensure that access routes to work areas are in accordance with the applicable MOWP and clearly identified and that access is restricted to these routes;
  • Ensure that excavation is carried out in accordance with the MOWP and, in particular, so as to avoid damage or loss of calibration to any underground power or control cable associated with a precision approach and landing system or any other navigational aid;
  • Report immediately to the air-traffic controller and the aerodrome operator any incident, or damage to facilities, likely to affect air-traffic control services or the safety of aircraft;
  • Remain on duty at the works area while work is in progress and the aerodrome is open to aircraft operations;
  • Ensure that the air-traffic controller is kept informed of the radio call signs of the vehicles used by the works safety officer;
  • Require the immediate removal of vehicles, plant and personnel from the movement area where necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft operations;
  • Ensure that the movement area is safe for normal aircraft operations following removal of vehicles, plant, equipment and personnel from the works area;
  • In the case of time-limited works, ensure that the works area is restored to normal safety standards not less than 5 minutes before the time scheduled or notified for an aircraft movement; and
  • Ensure that floodlighting or any other lighting required for carrying out aerodrome works is shielded so as not to represent a hazard to aircraft operations.

Ground Services Officer – Aerodrome Reporting Officer (ARO) - Registered Aerodromes -

Unlike a certified aerodrome where the aerodrome operating procedures are regulated through an aerodrome manual, the procedures for a registered aerodrome are simpler.

The operator of a registered aerodrome must have in place, experienced or appropriately trained persons, known as reporting officers, to carry out the aerodrome safety functions. Attributes required include:

  • Knowledge of the standards that the aerodrome has to be maintained to;
  • Mature self-starter who can be relied on to conduct regular serviceability inspections of the safety elements of the aerodrome;
  • Having the written and oral communication skills to initiate NOTAM or to communicate aerodrome condition status to ATC, pilots and other aerodrome users.
  • Reporting officers are normally directly under the employ of the operator of the aerodrome. However, at an aerodrome where aerodrome operator’s employees may not be available at all times, other persons may be nominated as reporting officers, for example the local agent of the airline during the period of regular public transport operations conducted by the airline concerned. Before entrusting the reporting function to a person, the aerodrome operator must ensure that the person is trained and has the appropriate attributes.
  • Reporting officers must be provided with appropriate radios in their vehicles so they can maintain a listening watch of aircraft activities on and in the vicinity of the aerodrome during working hours

Conduct daily Aerodrome serviceability inspections, commensurate with the size and complexity of the aerodrome. Typical duties include (but not limited to the following):