Last year’s Paris Air Show was marked by an event that received wide media coverage: The right wingtip of an Airbus A380 struck a building at Le Bourget airport as the aircraft was maneuvering on the ground. Most ground damage incidents receive little, if any, public attention, but ground damage is a significant financial, operational and safety issue, particularly given the airline industry’s razor-thin profit margin.
Flight Safety Foundation several years ago estimated that “ramp accidents cost major airlines worldwide at least $10 billion a year. These accidents affect airport operations, result in personnel injuries and damage aircraft, facilities and ground-support equipment.” The Foundation also estimated that 27,000 ramp accidents and incidents — one per 1,000 departures — occur worldwide annually.1
Many definitions of ground damage are offered by regulators and industry trade associations. Perhaps the most relevant i…
