Walkaround checks or regular vehicle inspections, also known as pre-trip checks or vehicle verifications, are a great way to get started with regular maintenance and risk assessment in any fleet vehicle and are also part of the compulsory duties of fleets operating on the road as they demonstrate compliance, aside from the obvious advantages of checking vehicles regularly to maintain their functionality.
Walkaround checks essentially include different protocols that include both the outside and the inside of the vehicle. These can be carried out via paper checklists that can be printed and used like this one, or, even better, carried out via a smartphone app with the added benefit of providing a greater degree of personalisation. This could indeed present a distinct advantage for aviation ground fleets or GSE pools that have very specific checks and uses and increased complexity of movements and operations—so, which particular requirements of aviation ground fleets will be the basis for personalised walkaround check apps?
#1 – Traditional walk-around checks. Appropriate for the usual type of vehicles we find on our roads, such as vans, cars or emergency trucks—the “normal” walkaround checks provide a sound generic format from which to compile your own checklist.
#2 – Vehicle checks for mixed fleets like the GSE ones. Motorized and non-motorized assets that all have to be fully operational and at the right place at the right time. Design a standard checklist for all of your GSE vehicles and customise each one depending on the vehicle your staff is going to operate.
#3 – Communication equipment check. This is definitely something people working on ramps cannot skip, no matter what. Testing any type of communication device the team is using has to be a critical part of the verifications done in aviation ground fleets.
#4 – Safety protection clothing/equipment. You can decide to have an option including box-ticking for this particular item, such as if personnel are wearing the appropriate apparel, footwear, visibility accessories, protection for ears, eyes and so on.
#5 – Aircraft arrival. A detailed checklist of the actions to be carried out upon landing of an aircraft helps streamline the array of equipment involved and is a reminder that all safety and location procedures prior to landing have been carried out.
#6 – Aircraft departure. You can customise the checklist for your ground services team to include checks to be carried out before the aircraft has to take off.
#7 – Various services. You can add to your checklist fuel servicing, catering services, de-icing if that applies, potable water replenishment, loading, FOD inspections...
Digital walkaround checks are an invaluable tool to help organise and speed up operations where vehicles are involved—why not capitalise fully on their benefits if you are running an aviation ground fleet and customise them to your personal requirements? Talk to us or start a free trial if you want to learn more!
