Build a strong foundation in airport ramp safety, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention, ground handling safety, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and safe airside operations.
Airport ramps are fast-moving operational environments where aircraft, vehicles, equipment, passengers, and ground personnel often work within the same limited space. Understanding the hazards around you — and knowing how to respond safely — is essential for anyone beginning or working in aviation ground operations.
This beginner-friendly course introduces the core principles of ramp safety and FOD prevention in a clear, practical, and easy-to-understand format.
You will learn how to recognise hazards associated with aircraft engines, jet blast, engine intake, propellers, wings, landing gear, moving aircraft, vehicles, and Ground Support Equipment.
The course also explains common types of Ground Support Equipment, including pushback tugs, baggage tractors, belt loaders, Ground Power Units, passenger stairs, and catering vehicles, while introducing the safety considerations involved when working around moving GSE.
A major part of the course focuses on Foreign Object Debris, or FOD.
You will learn what FOD is, where it commonly comes from, how even small objects can cause aircraft damage, engine damage, tyre damage, personal injury, and operational delays, and how good housekeeping and proactive FOD control can help prevent incidents.
The course also explores the human side of ramp safety. Topics such as fatigue, distraction, complacency, time pressure, poor communication, assumptions, situational awareness, PPE, reporting, and personal responsibilityare introduced to help learners understand why safe behaviour is just as important as technical knowledge.
Whether you are preparing for your first aviation job, currently working in ground handling or airport operations, studying aviation, or simply looking to strengthen your knowledge of aircraft ground safety, this course provides a practical introduction to the principles every aviation professional should understand.
By the end of the course, you will have a clearer understanding of how to recognise hazards, prevent FOD, work safely around aircraft and GSE, communicate safety concerns, and make better safety decisions in an airside environment.
