DHL’s Michael Schweiger was on-board a Boeing 737-400 cargo flight that crashed on final approach to Vilnius Airport in 2024. This session will tell the miraculous story of Michael’s survival and discuss the safety learnings from the preliminary accident report. How do the human factors that contributed to the incident tell us help us lay the pathway to a high safety culture no matter where we operate within the aviation supply chain?

This panel discussion will unite senior leaders from across the supply chain and challenge them to give us a ‘warts and all’ assessment of the safety flaws in the high volume, high turnover ground handling model. What dangers are lurking on the apron for inexperienced teams operating under tight time pressures? How do leadership teams show safety is more than a tick box exercise and make it okay for frontline teams to proactively raise safety concerns during turnaround? The session will cover Just Culture, high safety performance Leadership behaviours and how might technology help.

Sweeping regulatory changes mean handlers will be formally responsible for the safety and the competence of their staff by 2028. With compliance inspections looming through the European Aviation Safety Agency how can an industry operating in an inherently hazardous environment with high turnover be ready

Mental health related absences have doubled in aviation since Covid. In a world of tight time constraints, long hours and relentless performance pressure then are our teams more prone to more mental health challenges than any other? GHI asks the experts and assesses what we can do as leaders to create a healthy, happy team who will ultimately move an aircraft safer and faster.

This session will explore the potential of AI enhanced technology to help operations managers better manage risk factors. The session will detail the roll out of smart cameras at London Gatwick Airport and explore what safety gains they have begun to unlock. The session will also look at the latest automated GSE safety features and other digital tools that can help our industry better protect employees and prevent aircraft damage.

You manage what you measure as the adage goes. So, what are the most effective indicators to power the journey towards ground safety improvement? What’s the difference between KPIs vs SPIs and lagging vs leading indicators. GHI invites ground handling leaders to share their tips on selecting the optimum measure and then insight on engaging frontline teams on the safety journey.

GHI has teamed up with aviation safety experts to provide a series of hands-on, learning workshops. These deep dive sessions will offer a unique opportunity to connect with other attending stakeholders and share your safety challenges. Discussions will be open and inclusive with a guiding principle that safety is our collective responsibility and not a competitive advantage. You will have a chance to join x5 roundtable topics. At each, your expert round table facilitator will help you find tangible solutions to a real safety challenge within your operation.

Roundtables themes include:

GSE Innovations: designing equipment that boosts occupational health, performance and prevents injury
Technology: VR training solutions for improving ramp safety 
Exoskeletons as a safety and performance aid

Communication on the ramp: tech advances that can help us manage risk

AI and digital: where do we need technology to help?

Autonomous GSE: potential and practical challenges to adoption

PPE: are we inviting injury by giving teams the wrong kit?

We invite you to toast a successful day of discovering safety solutions by joining us at the bar for a celebratory drink and the chance to continue your discussions with new contacts made during the day’s discussions.