Amigoe (Aruba): Airport is for the safety of people and material

Looks like there is a follow up article from Amigoe to last weeks, “Air traffic in Aruba in danger“. There had seemed to have been questions as to what Peter Steinmetz, director of Aruba Airport Authority (AAA), was referring to when it came to safety issues. Maybe the following from Amigoe could clarify that. It would appear safety issues contained a broad scope of things including passengers.

Maintaining a high level of safety at the airport of Aruba is one of the most important objectives of Aruba Airport Authority (AAA). On the one hand, the organizations are forced to this, because, in order to continue to function, they have to comply with the guidelines of the international civil aviation organization ICAO. On the other hand, the well-being of the passengers, airport employees, aircrafts, vehicles, and other material depends on this.

Although much of the article stresses accidents that could take place on the runway apron, there are a couple of comments that could easily be translated to a larger approach to safety issues. At least they had better be.

Especially the apron of an airport is vulnerable for big and small accidents due to the presence of great amount of passengers and airport employees, especially during rush hours. If we do not pay attention to small accidents, the risk for big accidents increases.

The one statement that catches one’s eye is discussing communication. The Amigoe article references communication issues in the fact that several languages are used which is a safety issue. A lack of communication is an accident waiting to happen.

An aspect that is contributory for the safety or unsafety is the use of several languages. A good communication is very essential.

The fact that Amigoe has once again references communication as being a paramount safety issue on the ground at the airport, one can only look back to their previous article regarding the Aruban airport and wonder what they were trying to imply by the following comments.

Apparently the main reason seems to be due to the malfunctioning radar in Curaà §ao, the use of outdated software and an unreliable radio communication between the control towers of the Reina Beatrix and Hato airports.

Communication issues are a safety concern whether they be in the air or on the ground. Proper communication is the glue that holds everything together.

(Full Amigoe article) Airport is for the safety of people and material

ARUBA — Maintaining a high level of safety at the airport of Aruba is one of the most important objectives of Aruba Airport Authority (AAA). On the one hand, the organizations are forced to this, because, in order to continue to function, they have to comply with the guidelines of the international civil aviation organization ICAO. On the other hand, the well-being of the passengers, airport employees, aircrafts, vehicles, and other material depends on this.

The airport of Aruba has a department that is in charge of drawing up safety regulations and make sure that they are complied with, the so-called Safety Board. In addition, there is an Airside Safety Council that includes representatives of all users of the airport, like airline companies, ground handling companies, fire department, catering, customs, immigration, and fuel suppliers. It is a consultative body, where all participants are free to bring up their additional suggestions. These suggestions are mostly experiences in the daily practice. This group is on the other hand very important to pass on information to the employees in their own company.

Especially the apron of an airport is vulnerable for big and small accidents due to the presence of great amount of passengers and airport employees, especially during rush hours. If we do not pay attention to small accidents, the risk for big accidents increases. Also the many vehicles that maneuver between the aircrafts, like the tankers, the catering trucks, the fresh drinking water trucks, the toilet trucks, the baggage claims and high loaders, and the many tractors and baggage cars are risky. Everything and every person that moves on the apron are risky. Also foreign objects that can fly around due to gust of winds caused by aircraft engines, can damage airplanes and cause delays. Special shoes, reflecting clothing, gloves, and earplugs also belong to the safety regulations. An aspect that is contributory for the safety or unsafety is the use of several languages. A good communication is very essential.