In a rapidly changing operational and regulatory environment, learn about how Brussels Airport Companyâs (BAC) innovative approach is changing the way they deliver safety training.
In 2015 Brussels Airport Company was faced with a number of regulatory and operational challenges including the start of the transfer from the ICAO Annex 14 Aerodrome Certification to the new EASA Aerodrome Certification.
One of the key impacts of achieving this new certification included the delivery of additional training to ensure that staff were equipped with the required operational knowledge and skills.
The BAC Safety Management Unit conducted a training needs analysis to identify the training requirements needed as part of the aerodrome certification process and if there were any gaps in the current training processes.
A number of new requirements were identified that would need a significant amount of time and resources to deliver using traditional in-house training.
Fortunately, BAC identified that the Airports Council International Online Learning Centreâs suite of âoff the shelfâ online courses met a large number of the basic EASA requirements in the areas of Airside Operations, Safety and Dangerous Goods Management.
Nele De Greef, Safety Development Manager at BAC, worked with the Online Learning Centre to select the required courses that would be rolled out to over fifty carefully selected staff who perform safety critical functions at the airport.
De Greef reported that:
The project allowed BAC to utilize âoff the shelfâ training to provide staff with basic foundation knowledge that delivered the minimum level of knowledge, understanding and competency.
Online access ensured that the training was delivered quickly, easily and on demand so that staff could work through the training on their own schedule.
This approach freed valuable BAC training personnel allowing them to focus on the development of more in-depth safety training specific to the local BAC environment that could not be met by âoff the shelfâ training.
Safety Officer Stephan Degreef and Safety Compliance Manager Kevin Cleynhens commented that:
With nearly 23.5 million passengers in 2015 Brussels Airport is one of the largest airports in Europe and the main airport in Belgium. Brussels Airport connects the capital of Europe to 226 destinations around the globe, served by 77 airlines. For more information visit http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/
The ACI Online Learning Centre would like to thank Nele de Greef, Safety Development Manager and the entire team at the BAC Safety Management Unit for taking the time and effort to develop and share this article.