The inaugural GSE & RAMP-OPS AFRICA brought together leaders from throughout the ground support equipment (GSE) industry and around the globe to discuss the past, present and future of the sector.
A key focus of this event was the African market, although speakers covered a wide range of topics, including technology, regulation, training and cooperation within the industry.
“Your biggest investment in Africa will be your GSE, so getting that right is very important,” said Paul Drever of Menzies Aviation, who acted as chairman of the three-day conference.
Several presentations focused on technological innovations within the sector, something which Drever admitted has been “a slow process” when compared with other industries.
Nevertheless, speakers such as David Burgess of Swissport were keen to stress that the ‘ramp of the future’, a stated modernisation aim of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is not so far away as GSE’s slow moving reputation may suggest.
“I think change might be coming on the ramp,” said Burgess, who highlighted ‘E-GSE’ (electronically powered GSE), aircraft avoidance technology, remote controlled equipment and autonomous machines as areas of particular interest to Swissport at present.
Paul Holmes, Managing Director at Smart Asset Manager, spoke about the increasing importance of telematics, which merges telecommunications with informatics, in the industry.
“If you haven’t got telematics, you’re not coming in the door,” said Holmes of the attitude many airports adopt nowadays, due to the potential for telematics to improve fuel saving, efficiency, safety and autonomy of GSE assets, amongst other things.
Amr Samir, CEO of Link Aero Trading Agency (LATA) gave a thoughtful talk on the importance of good quality training, even in the age of increasing reliance on technological innovations.
Meanwhile Basil Agboarumi, CEO of Skyway Aviation Handling, prompted a lively discussion on GSE regulation following his presentation on IATA’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) and its effects within Africa.
Overall, the first GSE & RAMP-OPS AFRICA set out what it intended to achieve: in-depth discussion of some of the key issues in the GSE world, both in Africa and beyond.
Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates were all keen to discuss where the next GSE & RAMP-OPS AFRICA might be held, long before the 2019 event was over – as sure a sign as any it had been worthwhile.
