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Aircraft recovery refers to the safe removal of a disabled aircraft when it cannot move under its own power. It is a critical part of airport and airline operations: a disabled aircraft can significantly disrupt airport operations, especially when it blocks a runway, taxiway, or other critical area.
For an aircraft operator, aircraft recovery is two-fold: the establishment of comprehensive processes and procedures within the organization prior to the incident, and the art of engineering improvisation after the incident.
Today and since the early 1970s, IATA is involved within the aircraft recovery community, acting as a global hub for technical knowledge, best practices, and industry collaboration in this field.
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Aircraft Recovery Task Force
Established in the 1970s, the Aircraft Recovery Task Force (ARTF) acts as an advisor to the Technical Operations Working Group (TOWG) and works closely with IATA management on all matters related to the removal of disabled aircraft or aircraft recovery.
Its areas of activity include:
- Drafting and presenting SARPs and high-level guidance material related to the removal of disabled aircraft at ICAO groups and panels.
- Undertaking advocacy actions to represent the position of airlines at international and regional organizations, as well as particular Civil Aviation Authorities.
- Developing guidelines for aircraft operators for recovery activities for large aircraft types and next-generation aircraft.
- Serving as a training forum and a knowledge-sharing community for new personnel.
- Revising IATA Aircraft Recovery Training Course content.
- Gathering incident statistics and reviewing incident cases; raising awareness about the environmental impact of aircraft removal and/or salvage.
Membership
The ARTF consists of 15 airline members and several non-airline observers. Observers include non-member airlines, IATA Strategic Partners, OEM teams responsible for developing Aircraft Recovery Manuals (ARMs), incident investigators, and adjustors. ARTF cooperates closely with the International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP), where several airline pool providers are also IATA ARTF members.
Internally, the ARTF coordinates with Emergency Response Planning Task Force (ERPTF), as both constitute a part of the broader Crisis Management and Crisis Response domain of activities at IATA.
Aircraft Recovery Training
IATA offers in-class theoretical training for aviation industry professionals around the globe. All our courses lead to internationally recognized qualifications. Browse the course catalog for content related to Aircraft Recovery.
Aircraft Recovery Strategic Partners
The Strategic Partnerships Program is a platform for aviation solution providers to build and strengthen relationships with key industry stakeholders. IATA Strategic Partners provide their expertise by supporting the activities and initiatives of IATA and its member airlines. The listed Strategic Partners are recognized for their valuable contributions in the field of Aircraft Recovery, with some of them collaborating with IATA for more than 20 years.
Why is Aircraft Recovery Critical
Disabled aircraft that interfere with normal activity at an aerodrome require prompt removal actions. The traveling public, other aircraft operators, the airport operator, and the operator of the incident aircraft are all affected to varying degrees. In addition, runway and taxiway closures can substantially reduce the number of arrivals and departures and restrict movement around the aerodrome, resulting in loss of revenue to the airport as well as to the aircraft operator.
Recovery operations start when the emergency response procedures are completed and clearance from the authorities to move the aircraft is obtained.
Main Types of Aircraft Recovery
ICAO Airport Service Manual Part V recognizes three main types of recovery: aircraft debogging, aircraft recovery, and aircraft salvage.
- Aircraft debogging. The removal of an aircraft from a runway or taxiway excursion where the aircraft has become bogged down but has relatively little or no damage is considered a “debogg”.
- Aircraft recovery. Any aircraft that is unable to move under its own power or through the normal use of an appropriate tow tractor and tow bar is considered an “aircraft recovery”.
- Aircraft salvage. An accident or incident in which the aircraft sustains substantial damage and the insurer considers the hull a constructive loss is considered “aircraft salvage”.
ICAO Standards
Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and high-level guidance in this domain are covered in the following ICAO documents:
- Related provisions in Annex 14 of the Chicago Convention (pdf)
- PANS – Aerodrome, Chapter 10 (upcoming)
- Airport Service Manual, Chapter V
Airline Responsibilities
From an airline perspective, aircraft recovery operations are not considered to be a part of procedures requiring airworthiness oversight. However, planning and execution of a recovery operation require extensive engineering and maintenance knowledge, such as the ability to read and utilize the information in an Aircraft Recovery Manual (ARM), other maintenance documents, or maintenance technician skills while working with the aircraft directly.
For this reason, teams responsible for aircraft recovery conventionally constitute a part of an airline's line maintenance or other engineering and maintenance unit. The coordination of actions is normally performed via a Maintenance Control Centre or Operations Control Centre.