Int'l Terminal Ground Crew

[Tim Bowrey]

Evening everyone,

I have been wondering lately which companies do the pushback and ground handling for the International airlines over at T1 in Sydney.

I am quite interested in being part of the pushback crew of bigger aircraft as I am currently dispatching the Jetstar A320's and would love to pushback the 744's and A380's. Also, what kind of experiance would be required to be accepted into these roles or does anyone know anybody who do these jobs?

Seeing this video is very inspirational ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QJ-uP18NkA

Thanks in advance.

[Adam G]

Try Menzies, Aerocare & Toll/DNATA - they are the largest three.

[Michael Morrison]

Toll do airlines like V Aus, Singapore & Emirates so you would definately get the odd A380!

Aerocare do Pac Blue & JQ so you would have 737/320/330 only.

Menzies do United so a chance for the 744...

[Bernie P]

Morning...

Why are there so many companies, rather than a single larger company to do all ground ops? And also, do the airlines tender for these ops, or is it simply a Syd Airport tender operation??

Just a thought...

[Lukas M]

You will have the most chance with Aerocare as they seem to hire anyone.

[Adam W]

Bernie, each airline tenders for ground handling services.
The reason there are so many ground handling companies is the same as any other industry where you have several companies competing against one another.

Tim, don't forget there is also Qantas which handle their own international flights, so plenty of 747s and A380s, as well handling some other airlines. Problem is Qantas have lost a few of their contracts lately so probably wouldn't be looking to put on any staff at the International for quite a while. Also if you were to get a job there you would probably start in the baggage room or cabin cleaning so it would be quite a while before you did any pushbacks.
I think your best bet would be Toll as they're the ones that seem to be getting most of the ground handling contracts lately but again you probably wouldn't be doing pushbacks straight away.

[steve k]

Other considerations are you will beed airside driving permit, day/night endorsed and quite likely a medium or heavy rigid truck licence to operate the heavy duty tugs used. Might be worth your while checking out the employment criteria. A dangerous goods and white card (oH&s stuff) and other things may also be required.

[Mick F]

And correct me if I'm wrong (Nigel?), to hold an airside drivers licence, you require an open drivers licence for the state in which you reside.

I know that's a requirement for where I am.

Mick

[Paul f.]

Other considerations are you will beed airside driving permit, day/night endorsed and quite likely a medium or heavy rigid truck licence to operate the heavy duty tugs used. Might be worth your while checking out the employment criteria. A dangerous goods and white card (oH&s stuff) and other things may also be required.There is no day/night endorsed well in MEL anyway,but SYD been SYD anything is possible.

[Kent Broadhead]

You will have the most chance with Aerocare as they seem to hire anyone. My brother-in-law started with Aerocare a few months ago.

I'll leave things at that....

[Tim Bowrey]

Thanks very much for the feedback everyone!

[D Chan]

Toll do airlines like V Aus, Singapore & Emirates so you would definately get the odd A380!

Aerocare do Pac Blue & JQ so you would have 737/320/330 only.

Menzies do United so a chance for the 744...

My info is a bit outdated, but Toll Dnata does Singapore, Emirates, China Southern

Menzies do Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic, Thai, British Airways

[Nigel C]

And correct me if I'm wrong (Nigel?), to hold an airside drivers licence, you require an open drivers licence for the state in which you reside.

I know that's a requirement for where I am.

Mick

I presume you mean 'on your blacks'? If so, I can't say I've ever looked it up or felt the need to do so.

Paul f. there used to be a day/night endorsements for Cat 4 licences (Cat 4 allowing runway access/crossings), but they scrapped that a few years ago.

[Raymond Rowe]

Other considerations are you will beed airside driving permit, day/night endorsed and quite likely a medium or heavy rigid truck licence to operate the heavy duty tugs used. Might be worth your while checking out the employment criteria. A dangerous goods and white card (oH&s stuff) and other things may also be required.

All you need to drive a tow tug is a level 3 licence which means you drive on taxiways and hold a radio operators certificate.Been there done that.No DG and why would you need a white card to work on a tarmac.

[steve k]

Perhaps I was being generic, baggage handlers here in ADL usually do the push backs, or did in the Ansett days anyway. A white card prob will become a normal req in the future, such as a drug/alch test for employment is. A req for all baggage handlers is dangerous goods ticket, and a friend who is head of airside safety assures me its getting tougher out there to drive tarmac/airside. After 24 years of airside driving, I know my stuff. what I have stated is or will become the norm in the very near future. Having a licence to drive a heavy vehicle will be mandatory. When I started with Ansett driving medium/heavy trucks, a car lic was all that was reqd, under new laws of airside op's, lic must match the veh you operate. I suggest you find out more about it.

[Brad M]

in ADL , there is Cat. 2 and a Cat. 2N...the "N' is for night endorsment for your ADA (authority to drive Airside).
Cat 3 ADA's require radio operations for taxiways, but Cat 2 you can still cross taxiways and tow aircraft on taxiways with a safety officer escort.
only need Cat.2 for pushbacks , and no heavy vehicle state licence is necessary..

[steve k]

This makes me question why a MR(medium rigid) lic is required to drive airside, catering trucks, yet a car lic will allow you to drive a heavy push back vehichle, what the?