IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM)

Order the 2023 IGOM online

If you are new to the IGOM, all versions are updated annually. Digital products come with automatic updates for the year and a search function that makes finding current information easy. Plus, it's cheaper.

Note: IATA Ground Operations Manual is a complementary manual to Airport Handling Manual (AHM). Buy them together and save. The IGOM is procedure driven, focusing on “how to ​​do”. The AHM is policy driven and focuses on “what to do”​​​​​​​.

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Contact us here to order the 2022 IGOM (11th edition) valid until 31st March 2023.

What's inside the IGOM

• Chapter 1 – Passenger handling procedures (passenger departure, passenger security, passenger arrival, transfer and transit)
• Chapter 2 – Baggage handling procedures (cabin baggage, checked baggage, offloading of checked baggage, mishandled or unclaimed baggage)
• Chapter 3 – Aircraft general safety/servicing operations (ramp safety in aircraft handling, safety during fueling/defueling, adverse weather conditions, hand signals)
• Chapter 4 – Aircraft turn-around (aircraft arrival, aircraft doors, aircraft departure, aircraft towing)
• Chapter 5 – Load control (load control principles, regulatory requirements, qualification requirements, documentation)
• Chapter 6 – Airside safety operational oversight (turnaround coordination/supervision requirements, reporting-incidents, accidents and near-misses, airside safety investigation procedure, emergency response procedures)

Stay up-to-date

Each year, significant changes are done to processes and procedures, that's why we publish a new version of the IGOM every year. 

Changes in the 12th edition arise from the review of the Ground Operations Standards Working Group (GOS) of  Chapters 3 and 4 with the aim of simplifying the ramp process under the simple ramp concept initiative to ensure that key ramp processes are documented and implemented in a safe and simple manner for the entire ground operations industry.

Some of these major revisions include:

• Chapter 3,  3.1 Ramp Safety in Aircraft Handling -  An entire revision of section to improve accuracy, consistency, and alignment of process flow; enhancement of safety precautions; and revision of each subsection within General ramp safety and GSE operations
• Chapter 4,   4.1 Aircraft Arrival - Section revised to align with the arrival activities process flow. Changes to Section Titles 4.1.1; 4.12. and 4.1.3.  4.2 Aircraft Chocking -  Inclusion of action to be taken when aircraft is parked on a slope. 4.4  Aircraft Access Doors  - an entire revision of the section to improve consistency and accuracy of operating aircraft access doors for both cabin access doors and cargo hold access doors. 4.5 Aircraft Loading and Unloading - an entire revision of the section to include unloading processes as well as improve consistency and accuracy of aircraft loading and unloading process. 4.6 Aircraft Departure - Entire revision of the section to improve consistency and accuracy of aircraft ground movement process.  Deletion of all Power Push unit procedures, since the equipment is currently not in use.  All operational procedures aligned with key processes. Ground staff member’s responsibility highlighted.  Significant renumbering due to process improvement. 4.9 Aircraft Towing -  Numbering changes and in  4.9.4 content revision, operational procedure enhanced for use of apron lines, safety distance, and relieve of torsional stress on landing gears during towing maneuver.