Girl power for Aurigny ground handler

Wednesday 26 June 2019

Aurigny Ground Service Agent, Hannah Lombard has become the first female member of staff to push back an aircraft and be cleared for headset start procedures.

Headset start procedures involve communicating with the pilot giving them the checks needed to make the aircraft safe and to tell them when they can start the engines. Push back means that the agent drives the tug and pushes the aircraft off stand ready for departure.

All ground crew go through a rigorous training programme and to be able to do these two tasks Hannah had to do both theory and practical training before she could be signed off.

The first aircraft scheduled aircraft she pushed back was the GR606 Aurigny Embraer jet to London Gatwick. Hannah said: “I was a little nervous, but it felt really special to be able to do this and I am proud to work at an airline that encourages women in this area and has such a comprehensive training programme.”

Ms Lombard and another female colleague will be based in Southampton and will be the first ever females push back agents at that airport.

Aurigny Ground Operations Manager, Dave Cox, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our team in Southampton following the introduction of our Guernsey to Southampton service last month. There is no reason why women have not done this job before, but none have ever applied for the role. It is great that two women have been successful in their training and Hannah’s first push back was textbook.”

Ms Lombard will now be able to push back and headset both Aurigny’s ATRs and the Embraer jet.

Pictured: Hannah Lombard at work.