Featured in Airside International: How Ground Handling Training Keeps Pace with a Changing Industry
IN CONVERSATION
In this series of articles, ‘In Conversation’, Miles Aviation Consultancy Managing Director and Owner, Simon Miles, explores the world of aviation consultancy; who consultants are, what they can do for you, the value that they can add, and what to watch out for.
I’m delighted to share that I was recently interviewed by Megan Ramsay for the December 2025 edition of Airside International. The conversation focused on one of the most important questions facing our sector today: how ground handling training keeps pace with an industry that is changing at an unprecedented rate.
In the article, I talk about some of the challenges the industry continues to face as it tries to keep up with the constant stream of regulatory, technological, and operational changes reshaping aviation, challenges that some organisations clearly still struggle with.
It’s not just about tracking annual and regular updates from IATA and SAE International; those changes need to be properly embedded into training materials, and instructors must be kept fully current and confident in delivering them. At the same time, the industry in Europe is also preparing for the upcoming UK and EASA ground handling regulations, which will place even greater demands on training quality and consistency.
The future of training: instructor-led, online, and AI
We’re often asked to deliver complex, lengthy, and highly technical training online. I don’t have a fundamental issue with online training; however, what is clear—and supported by research—is that instructor-led training consistently delivers stronger learning outcomes than purely online delivery and often does so more efficiently when covering the same material.
That said, online, blended, and VR-based training can be highly effective and all have an important role to play. The key is moving forward with care and realism. Regardless of how technology evolves, human-to-human, face-to-face, instructor-led training will remain essential for years to come. The real challenge—and opportunity—lies in understanding which training method is appropriate for which task, rather than assuming one approach can replace all others.
We continue to deliver a five-day, instructor-led Load Control training course. When prospective clients ask whether this could be delivered online, my response is usually the same: it would take longer, cost more, and even if we could properly oversee participants and successfully deliver all of the practical training and exercises, do we really want people sitting in front of a screen for eight hours a day, for seven or eight consecutive days? Is that genuinely the outcome the industry believes is acceptable?
Clearly, in some cases and for some in the industry, the answer is yes. Whether it should be is a different question.
Is this sector of industry ready for AI?
In its current form, probably no in most cases. As I’ve mentioned before in previous articles, we still occasionally audit GHSPs that don’t even have the basics in place to meet the existing, let alone, upcoming requirements.
While the industry has largely recovered since COVID, it’s clear that there was a significant loss of skills and knowledge during that period that hasn’t yet been fully replaced. Some believe that artificial intelligence can fill all, or at least part, of that gap. I both agree and disagree. AI will undoubtedly have an important role to play, but there’s a real risk that, if we’re not careful, human input becomes diluted, core operational knowledge starts to fade, and the human role in safety-critical decision-making is gradually reduced, in some cases, poissibly eliminated.
Should we be concerned?
Probably yes. The prospect of eliminating, even partially, the human element from training is one that I find deeply concerning. AI should support aviation, not replace the experience, judgement, and professionalism that underpin safe operations. Used thoughtfully and in balance, AI can be a powerful and very useful tool, but only if we continue to value and invest in the human expertise at the heart of our industry.
Did you know…
The new EU and UK Ground Handling Regulations will require all GHSPs to implement structured compliance systems—including SMS, quality oversight, training frameworks, and more. At Miles Aviation Consultancy, we're preparing to offer specialist support to help organisations transition smoothly into this new regulatory environment.
Whether you're an airline, airport, or GHSP, we can support you with tailored audits, gap analyses, and bespoke documentation to ensure you're ready for what's coming.
🔍 Explore our services at milesaviation.com or get in touch below to discuss how we can help you stay compliant, competitive, and confident.
