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The IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) standardizes ground handling processes and procedures to reduce the complexity between working with multiple airlines, airports and ground service providers.
Standardizing ground and ramp operations for airlines can help drive down costs, reduce the risk of aircraft damages and simplify training requirements. The IGOM has also been known as an acceptable means of compliance for a reference tool for ISAGO audits.
ISAGO Checklist
The ISAGO Checklist is complementary to the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM). It is a straightforward tool for assessing compliance with ground handling standards, derived from key industry manuals. It promotes standardization, reducing the need for extensive audits by providing clear benchmarks and verifying adherence to established guidelines.
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Order the 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: The IATA Ground Operations Manual is a complementary manual to the Airport Handling Manual (AHM). The IGOM is procedure driven, focusing on “how to do”. The AHM is policy driven and focuses on “what to do”.
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)
Still not sure if the IGOM is for you? Download the full table of contents with over 15 sample pages.
Stay up-to-date
The IGOM has been revised, effective from January 1, 2026. The Ground Operations Standards Working Group (GOS) aimed to simplify ramp procedures for safer ground operations. The key changes in IGOM edition 14 include:
- Chapter 1: Comprehensive review of passenger processes, elimination of redundant procedures, refined wording, and updated guidance for handling special categories of passengers and disruptions.
- Chapter 2: Review and alignment of baggage handling procedures with Resolution 753, updates on mishandling and unclaimed baggage, and cross-references with the IATA Baggage Reference Manual.
- Chapter 3: Enhancements to high-risk procedures, updated hygiene guidelines for toilet servicing, alignment of potable water guidance with AHM440, and new subsection on cargo hold disinsection.
- Chapter 4: Clarifications on aircraft turnaround actions, safety briefings, standardized chocking procedures, and extensive review of special cargo handling.
- Chapter 5: Introduction of electronic signatures for the Loading Information Report (LIR), review of off-loading instructions, and clarification on preliminary and final loadsheets.