Courses

Professional Diploma in Aviation Ground Operations & Turnaround Management

Course Overview

The Professional Diploma in Aviation Ground Operations & Turnaround Management is an
advanced, practice-focused programme that develops the full capability needed to plan, control, and
continuously improve airport and airline ground operations. It brings together aircraft turnaround
planning, ramp and passenger operations, load control interface, safety/SMS and ISAGO
requirements, SLA/KPI management, disruption handling, and leadership of multi-vendor/multi-
airline stations.
The programme reflects the operational intent of IATA AHM, IATA IGOM, ISAGO, and relevant ICAO
airside safety practices, and is designed for ground handling agents (GHAs), airline stations, airport
operations teams, and training academies that need a documented, auditable competence pathway
for supervisors and duty officers.

Why This Course is Important?

Safety + OTP in one system: It equips managers to protect aircraft and people while still delivering on-time performance.
Commercial credibility: Airlines increasingly award/renew contracts based on SLA delivery, audit results, and safety record.
Standardisation across stations: A single Whitestone-aligned curriculum allows multi- location operators to train to one benchmark.
Career elevation: Positions learners for duty officer, turnaround manager, station operations lead, or GHA operations manager roles.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

Map, operate, and improve the end-to-end aircraft turnaround process for different aircraft types and operators.
Supervise and integrate ramp, baggage, passenger, cargo and load control functions into a single, time-bound plan.
Apply IATA/ICAO airside safety principles and operate within an SMS / ISAGO-aligned safety and quality framework.
Manage SLAs, KPIs, and A-CDM milestones and produce daily/weekly operations reports for airlines and airport authorities.
Lead teams in irregular operations (delays, diversions, tech aircraft, weather, crew issues) and maintain service recovery.
Conduct incidents/ground damage/near-miss reporting and close out corrective and preventive actions.
Design and deliver on-job training (OJT), briefings, audits, and ramp inspections for continuous improvement.
Contribute to station-level budget, manpower planning, rostering, and equipment readiness.

Target Audience

Ground handling supervisors, duty officers, turnaround coordinators
Airline/airport station operations staff moving into management roles
Safety, quality, and training focal points who support ground operations
Aviation academy graduates seeking a comprehensive, operations-focused diploma
Operations staff in cargo/ramp/passenger who need multi-functional oversight capability

Entry Requirements

Minimum diploma/graduate qualification or 2–3 years’ experience in airport/airline/ground handling operations.
Good operational English (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent recommended).
Ability to read and work with SOPs, checklists, and operational reports.
Employer/airport medical and pass requirements where training is delivered on-site.

Programme Structure & Modules

Module 1 – Global Aviation & Ground Handling Framework

Airline–airport–GHA relationship
IATA AHM / IGOM and ICAO airside safety intent
Contracts, SLAs, and station instructions

Module 2 – Aircraft Turnaround Planning & Control

Turnaround stages: arrival → servicing → loading/boarding → departure
Stand allocation and ground service sequencing
A-CDM awareness and milestone management
Managing multi-service providers at one stand

Module 3 – Ramp & Apron Safety Management

Apron discipline, PPE, FOD, GSE control
High-risk tasks: fueling, catering, de-icing, pushback/towing (awareness)
Incident prevention and stop-the-job authority
Link to SMS / ISAGO

Module 4 – Load Control, Baggage & Cargo Interface

Coordination with load controllers (LIR, LMC, trim sheet readiness)
Baggage performance, mishandled baggage reduction
Cargo/ULD handover at the ramp

Module 5 – Service Quality, SLAs & KPI Reporting

Designing and interpreting ground handling SLAs
Core KPIs: OTP, turn time, mishandled baggage, safety findings, training compliance
Daily/weekly reporting to airlines and airport operator
Using data to trigger corrective actions

Module 6 – Irregular Operations, Service Recovery & Customer Handling

Delays, tech aircraft, weather, crew/ATC restrictions
Passenger-facing coordination with terminal teams
Communications and documentation during disruption
Delay codes and root-cause analysis

Module 7 – Safety, SMS, ISAGO & Audit Readiness

Applying ICAO Annex 19 SMS pillars to ground ops
ISAGO expectations for GHAs and station audits
Conducting ramp inspections, toolbox talks, and safety campaigns
Corrective/preventive action tracking

Module 8 – People, Rostering & Resource Management

Shift planning and peak-hour resourcing
Competency and OJT records
Coaching supervisors and building a high-discipline ramp culture

Module 9 – Equipment & Technology in Ground Operations

GSE readiness, maintenance, and defect reporting
Digital turnaround tools, e-GSE, and vehicle tracking (awareness)
Documentation and record-keeping

Module 10 – Business & Continuous Improvement in Ground Ops

Cost drivers in ground handling
Improving turn time and aircraft utilisation
Developing SOPs, briefing packs, and training add-ons
Preparing business cases for additional equipment or manpower

Awarding Body

Whitestone International College of Innovation

United Kingdom

Qualification Type

Professional Diploma – Postgraduate Level Qualification

(Industry-aligned, regulated qualification issued by Whitestone International College of Innovation, UK)

Assessment & Certification

Assessment Components:

Modular knowledge tests / applied assignments
Practical operational/turnaround scenario exercise
Capstone Project (Station Turnaround & Service Quality Improvement Plan) – written + presentation
Certification: On successful completion, participants are awarded the Professional Diploma in Aviation Ground Operations & Turnaround Management by Whitestone International College of Innovation (UK).

Benefits of Attending

A single, structured pathway from operations to supervisory/manager level
Immediate tools: turnaround checklist, SLA/KPI templates, ramp inspection form, delay report format
Better airline/airport audit performance and ISAGO readiness
Strong progression to the Professional Diploma in Airport Customer Experience, Passenger Services & Baggage Operations or to a Certified Aviation Ground Operations & Safety Professional (CAGOSP) credential when you publish it

Industry Alignment

Aligned with the operational intent of IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM), IATA IGOM, and ISAGO for ground handlers; consistent with ICAO airside safety expectations (Annex 14/19 awareness); interoperable with airport A-CDM practices and airline station management requirements — making it suitable for GHAs, airline stations, airport operators, and approved training partners.

£ 1250 Per Course

Industry-focused programmes with global standards.
Practical skills for real-world success.
Academic excellence with career-ready outcomes.

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London, united kingdom

+44 20 3727 6493

INfo@whitestoneinternational
college.org.uk