Aircraft Departure Qualification (ADQ) Training Course
Enhance your personnel’s airside ramp skills with our specialised Aircraft Departure Qualification (ADQ) training.
Introduction
This course certifies personnel in critical aircraft departure procedures, ensuring safe and efficient operations.
The training begins with a classroom-based theoretical safety module, followed by full on-ramp simulated and live practical sessions tailored to the specific equipment in use. Participants receive hands-on instruction covering communication protocols, safety measures, and operational procedures. The course concludes with live demonstrations, observation, and a final competency assessment.
Aligned with IATA IGOM and airline-specific SOPs, this training ensures compliance with the IATA AHM 1110 RMP12 and RMP15 industry standards. Course duration varies based on the participant’s prior experience and specific role requirements.
We can provide training for the following key aircraft departure roles:
Aircraft Pushback (Conventional Tug and Towbarless)
Headset Operator (Ground to Flight Deck Communications)
We can provide this training as individual modules or a complete package.
Qualification, Conformance and Compliance
To obtain ADQ qualification, personnel must complete both theoretical and practical training assessments. IATA recommends that recurrent training is undertaken every 36 months and ensures ongoing compliance with operational best practices and safety standards.
By ensuring ground personnel are fully trained and certified, the ADQ programme supports safe, efficient, industry conformant and regulation-compliant aircraft departure operations.
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1. Why is it important?
The aircraft departure phase is one of the most critical parts of ground operations. The use of headsets and execution of pushback procedures directly impacts the safety of the aircraft, crew, passengers, and ground personnel. Proper communication and aircraft movement are essential to avoid collisions, equipment damage, and personal injury. By ensuring staff are properly trained and qualified, this course helps maintain safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
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2. Who should attend?
This course is intended for:
- Ramp agents and ground handling personnel involved in aircraft pushback or headset operations
- Supervisors or team leads seeking formal qualification in headset or pushback operations
- Individuals requiring re-certification or refresher training as part of ongoing competence assurance
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3. Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the principles and safety requirements of headset communication and aircraft pushback
- Demonstrate correct use of equipment and procedures during the aircraft departure process
- Communicate clearly and effectively with flight crews using standard aviation phraseology
- Execute safe and controlled pushback operations in compliance with local procedures and international best practices (e.g., IATA AHM, ICAO Annexes)
- Identify and mitigate potential hazards during departure operations
Key topics
Aircraft pushback
Safe and compliant execution of pushback operations.
Operation of equipment required for aircraft pushback operations
·Effective communication between ground crew, flight deck, and ATC.
·Identification and mitigation of risks, including FOD control and safety zones.
Emergency response procedures during pushback operations.
Headset Operator
Establishing and maintaining clear communication with the flight crew.
Conducting pre-departure checks and ensuring ground clearance.
Relaying pushback instructions and securing pilot acknowledgement.
Coordinating with ramp personnel for a smooth transition to taxi operations.
Qualification
Completion of theoretical and practical training assessments.
Adherence to IATA IGOM and airline-specific SOPs.
Regular recurrent training to maintain compliance and safety standards.
High Quality Training Materials
Transferring knowledge and skills through the training process can be a demanding activity. Regulation and industry best practice demands that the standard of training is always high.
We supply several organisations with training material for a range of ground operations and ground handling training. Whether it's off the shelf or bespoke, our material is designed to not only be compliant and up-to-date, but also relevant, easy to follow and engaging.
To that make sure that the course material is fully absorbed we have placed an intense focus on producing high quality training materials that can be referred back to by the student whenever they need.
The quality and variety of material, that is used within the training environment, is essential for maintaining engagement, and delivering your training objectives.
Writing training material can be a complex and time-consuming job for any organisation. Ensuring that content is aligned, compliant and appropriately approved can be an arduous task at the best of times, but ensuring that it's also interesting and effective makes it more of a challenge, but we are here to help you.
This is a highly cost effective method of outsourcing a critical but time-consuming task. Whether we design your sessions, train your instructors to deliver our material or whether we deliver it in its entirety, we are likely to have a solution that will meet your requirement.
Typically, material sets can include any or all of:
Participants Guide - provides supplementary, lower level detail to complement the instructors presentation
Instructors Guide - includes lesson plans and a step by step guide on each session
Slide Pack - includes comprehensive visual aids and high level information for participants
Hand-outs - exercises and relevant information for participants
Ready to work together?
Get in touch with us today if this training course sounds right for your workforce and we will get back to you for a consultation.
Alternatively, should you have any specific requirements we would be happy to carry out a detailed training needs analysis to establish what best suits your organisation.
Please note: we only provide this training course for our clients as an 'in company' training course. Unfortunately, we don't offer this course for private individuals.
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