People. Technology. Standards.
At the IATA World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC 2026) in Istanbul, Mark Searle, IATA Director of Safety, delivered an important message about the future of aviation safety.
He highlighted three essential elements of a resilient aviation safety system: People. Technology. Standards.
This central message was clear: these are not three separate priorities, but interconnected elements of the same safety system. When one is weak, the resilience of the entire system is reduced.
For airlines, airports and ground handling organisations, this message is particularly relevant. Every day, thousands of operational decisions are made by personnel working in passenger services, ramp operations and air cargo handling.
How can organisations ensure that people, technology and standards work together effectively in everyday ground operations?
People - Competence Is the Foundation of Safety
People remain at the centre of aviation safety.
Technology can support operations, and standards can define requirements, but ultimately it is people who must understand procedures, recognise risks, make decisions and act correctly.
In ground handling, this means ensuring that personnel are not only trained when they join an organisation but also maintain and develop their competence throughout their careers.
Training should not be viewed simply as a regulatory obligation or a certificate to be obtained. It must provide personnel with the knowledge, understanding and practical skills required to perform their duties safely and consistently.
Initial qualification builds the foundation. Continuous qualification maintains and strengthens it.
Technology - Making Training More Effective and Accessible
Technology is transforming how aviation personnel learn and maintain their competence.
Traditional classroom training alone is no longer the only solution. Digital learning technologies provide opportunities to deliver training more efficiently, consistently and flexibly across multiple locations.
At Airport College International, we combine different learning methods to support workforce competence development:
eLearning provides structured, standardised theoretical training accessible anytime and anywhere.
microLearning reinforces essential knowledge through short, focused learning modules.
Virtual Reality (VR) allows personnel to practise operational situations and develop practical understanding in simulated environments.
Blended Learning connects digital learning with classroom instruction, practical exercises and structured On-the-Job Training (OJT).
These methods are not intended to replace operational experience or human judgement. Their purpose is to strengthen learning, improve knowledge retention and support the development of practical competence.
Technology creates value when it helps people perform their duties more safely and effectively.
Standards - Turning Requirements into Everyday Practice
Aviation operates within an extensive framework of international standards and recommended practices.
However, as highlighted in the IATA speech, the challenge is often not the absence of standards but their consistent implementation and oversight.
This is particularly important in ground handling, where personnel from different organisations must work together safely and efficiently.
The IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM) Chapter 11, including AHM 1110, provides an important industry framework for ground operations training and qualification.
At Airport College International, our training development follows applicable international aviation standards and industry requirements, including IATA AHM 1110.
Our objective is to help organisations translate these requirements into structured, accessible and consistent training programmes that support both initial and continuous qualification.
Standards only deliver their full safety value when personnel understand them and apply them correctly in daily operations.
VR enables safe practice in realistic simulated envvironment.
Connecting the Three Elements
The real opportunity for ground handling organisations lies in connecting people, technology and standards into one integrated approach to training and competence development.
People need the right knowledge and skills. Technology provides effective methods to deliver, reinforce and assess learning.
Standards establish the common requirements against which competence can be developed and maintained.
At Airport College International, this thinking forms the foundation of our Integrated Aviation Training Concept, connecting eLearning, MicroLearning, VR, blended learning and structured OJT with internationally recognised training requirements.
The objective is not simply to deliver more training. It is to help organisations develop and maintain a competent workforce capable of performing safely, consistently and efficiently.
From Training Compliance to Operational Competence
The aviation industry's safety performance depends on continuous improvement.
For ground handling management, the important question is not only whether employees have completed their required training.
The more important question is whether employees have the competence to apply what they have learned when it matters most.
When people, technology and standards work together, training becomes more than a compliance requirement. It becomes an essential part of operational safety, workforce development and organisational resilience.
People must be competent. Technology must support learning. Standards must guide performance.
When all three work together, aviation safety becomes stronger.
Inspired by Mark Searle, IATA Director of Safety, and his address at the IATA World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC 2026), Istanbul. Source: IATA – WSOC 2026 Speech, Mark Searle, Director of Safety.
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With best regards,
Pertti
