Changes Have Been Made in Airport Ground Handling Regulations!

MEMORANDUM ON LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT

Significant amendments made to the Regulation on Ground Handling Services (SHY-22) (“Regulation”) through the Regulation on Amending the Regulation published in the Official Gazette dated June 14, 2022, numbered 31866.

1. Ground handling organizations must appoint a responsible manager, having full responsibility towards SHGM for the provision of ground handling operations, equipment maintenance, personnel requirements and similar activities in accordance with the standards determined by SHGM. The responsible manager would need to have the authority to access, inspect and instruct all units within the organization as stipulated by the civil aviation rules and have the required financial authority, and to represent the organization solely. Responsible manager cannot assume any of duties of quality and safety system manager.

2. Responsible manager must be the owner, partner or general manager/company manager having the abovementioned authorities.

3. Form 4 document (manager personnel approval form) must be submitted to the General Directorate for the appointment of the responsible manager.

4. The rule that ground handling organizations applying for group C working license for flight operation service must have a representation service operating license and a supervision and management working license in at least 5 (five) of Atatürk, Antalya, Esenboğa, Adnan Menderes, Milas-Bodrum, Dalaman and Sabiha Gökçen airports has been changed. The new rule does not seek the presence of supervision and management working license specifically in these airports, but rather in at least 5 (five) of the 7 (seven) airports/airfields with the highest total passenger traffic in the year preceding the application for flight operation license.

5. A change has been made in the requirement for ground handling organizations with the group A and C working licenses applying for flight operation services. Priorly, these organizations have been requested to apply for license in at least 3 (three) international airports/airfields open to civil air traffic in addition to Atatürk and Antalya airports. The organizations would still need to obtain working license in at least 5 (five) airports/airfields, however it would no longer be necessary to apply for Atatürk and Antalya airports specifically. Instead, it would be sufficient to obtain license in 2 (two) airports/airfields with the highest total passenger traffic in the year preceding the application for flight operation license, in addition to at least 3 (three) international airports/airfields open to civil air traffic.

6. The definition of “Airport/Airfield” is included to the Regulation. By changing all references to “Airport” under the Regulation as “Airport/Airfield”, Airfields are also included within the scope of the Regulation. Airport/Airfield is defined as all areas on land and on water, within the defined boundaries, consisting of air and land parts.

7. Examination period of preliminary permission request is decreased to 45 (forty five) days from 60 (sixty) days.

8. The airport/airfield operator provides follow-me service upon the request of the air carriers.

9. “Personnel and equipment report regarding the main inspection of the airport/airfield operator for the operating license” is included into the documents to be required for the application of working license.