Rules, security approval and certificates at the airport
The paperwork and evidence that lets you in on the apron
Few workplaces are as thoroughly regulated as an airport. Every time you drive out on the apron you find yourself in an area where safety and control are systematized down to the smallest detail. As an airport operator much of your training is therefore learning the rules and getting the certificates that give you access to work there at all.
§Background Approval and ID Card
Before you can move around in the airport's secure areas, you must usually go through an enhanced background check. It's a control that must ensure that people who have access to aircraft, baggage, and cargo can stand for. Only when it's in place can you get the ID card that unlocks the gates for you. Without approval and card you can't get in — and therefore it's a requirement many employers look at when they hire an apprentice.
§Security — aviation safety
Security is about protecting aviation from unlawful acts — everything from access control and inspection of persons and vehicles to the rules about what may be brought on board an aircraft. As an operator you are trained in the procedures that apply to your area of work and you must know them off by heart. The rules are common European and are enforced strictly.
§Certificates you typically take along the way
The airport education is filled with concrete evidence and certificates, because you must be able to operate many types of equipment and handle different types of cargo safely. Which ones you take depends on your specialism, but several crop up across the trade.
- 01Forklift certificate so you can operate truck and loading equipment
- 02Driving license for the vehicles your work requires — both car and truck can be relevant
- 03First aid and elementary firefighting
- 04Training in handling hazardous goods where relevant to your task
- 05Security and access control training tailored to your area
- 06English at a level that works in an international airport environment
§Therefore the rules are not up for discussion
It may sound like a lot of paperwork and many rules — but at an airport there's no room for shortcuts. A plane about to take off and hundreds of passengers depend on everyone on the ground following procedures exactly. When you have control of the rules and your certifications, you're not just legal on the apron — you're someone colleagues can trust.
“At an airport, the rules are not bureaucracy for fun — they are what keeps everyone safe.”