Airfield Operations & Safety Unit (ASOU)

Anna GawthorpeAOSU Manager

London City Airport05 April 2011

Who are AOSU?

AOSU is currently made up of 16 staff members

Based airside at the bottom of the ATC tower,

Mainly operate on the airfield & apron areas

AOSU Structure

Anna GawthorpeManager

Airside Safety Coordinator

5 Operations & Safety Controllers

8 Operations & Safety Assistants

Admin

Our Role Within The Airport

Maintain a safe operating airfield on a day to day basis

Ensure the Aerodrome Licence criteria is met Meeting CAA requirements

Maintenance of the infrastructure, habitat & equipment

Airfield layout criteria Maintain a functioning Safety Management System Be prepared for an emergency

Meeting CAA Licence Standards

The airport is licensed and regulated by the CAA The majority of the criteria for that license is

managed by AOSU We are audited twice a year by the CAA to

ensure we are meeting the standards The standards are set out in literally dozens of

publications!

Airfield Maintenance

Runway & taxiway concrete maintenance Regular monitoring ensures the runway

remains serviceable. The Ops Controller will walk the length of the

runway every week tracking faults

Runway Friction

Over the course of a season rubber build up can reduce the frictional characteristics of the runway and it must be removed

Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL)

The airfield lighting layout & maintenance requirements are set by the CAA Daily checks of the 1000s of lights are completed Weekly maintenance to ensure they are fully

serviceable

Bird Management

Habitat Management to control bird activity around the airfield is crucial for a safe operation

Bird strikes are one of the mostly likely causes of aircraft incidents around airports

The CAA require us to continuously monitor birds on and around the airport

Bird Strike Consequences

The airfield landscaping is designed to reduce bird activity

Procedures to ensure bird attracts are removed There is a member of staff on the airfield at all

times monitoring birds Record all sightings of birds, Use different dispersal methods to

deter the birds

Bird Management on Site

Bird Management Off Site

A 13km bird circle around the airfield is monitored for bird activity

Birds are risk assessed to identify high risk species Sites identified as those which increase bird activity

around the airfield are closely monitored

Local Problem Areas

Royal Victoria Dock & Marina - Swan Numbers Huge increase in the number of observations in

the last 18 months

4730 44

90 78 93

137 138

8161 69

87

145115 100

194

312292

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Total Monthly Number of Swans Observed Overflying or in the Dock Adjacent to London City Airport

Airfield Safety Management

Ramp Awareness & Driver Training Airfield procedure trials, risk assessments &

promulgation of new procedures Accident Investigation & hazard spotting

Safety Campaigns

Emergencies

AOSU play a large part in an airfield emergency Ops Controller fulfils the role of Airport Silver Ops Assistants will provide communications,

scribe services and a passenger assembly area

Weather!

Any Questions?

Airfield Operations & Safety Unit (ASOU)Who are AOSU?AOSU StructureOur Role Within The AirportMeeting CAA Licence StandardsAirfield MaintenanceRunway FrictionAirfield Ground Lighting (AGL)Bird ManagementBird Strike ConsequencesBird Management on SiteBird Management Off SiteLocal Problem AreasAirfield Safety ManagementSafety CampaignsEmergenciesWeather!Any Questions?