VIA's employees: A team making sure every trip is a safe one

Ismail Manik served the Velana International Airport (VIA) his entire life. Since joining the main airway hub of Maldives at the tender age of 16, Manik remains a loyal employee of the airport to date. Over 30 years have passed since he first joined. Today, he is one of the senior most employees working on the airport's ramp.

Manik first joined the airport to work as a ramp driver. But that was only the start. From there on, Manik learned everything that needed to be done on the ramp and from learning how to operate ground equipment, to overseeing the equipment and training newcomers how to use them.

As Velana International Airport celebrated its 59th anniversary on Saturday, Manik's 30 years of service in the company made him a valuable part of that journey. He told local media outlet Mihaaru of the airport's progress over the years.

"A lot of progress in the work, technology has also [been] introduced. Everything has changed. Everything used to be done manually, using a lot of manpower. But, now that a lot of systems have come into existence, they are all used here as well. Many, hard to believe, technology has come [about] to this work," he said.

"In the past, when we had three planes land, we didn't have enough equipment for all three. When one plane was unloaded, we moved the vehicle to the other plane. But now even if there are 15 planes on the ground, we have enough equipment for all. So, it is a huge change."

However, Manik said that while the airport's facilities have significantly improved over time, so has the human resources. He attributed the development of the company's employees to the management.

"The company has now made us certified instructors - with a lot of IATA trainings as well. So, the company really looks into developing the people.

"Even now work is ongoing at the ramp to send operators for training. So, with the new terminal and its aerobridges, training will be needed. That is going on now."

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification is a globally recognized credential that confirms a person’s skills and knowledge in the air transport industry. This is a qualification that multiplies job opportunities and future growth in this competitive sector. Because of this, MACL says it gives special priority to making its employees IATA certified.

Ismail said one of the most certain things about MACL is that it does not deny anything employees deserve. He said he has this confidence and said MACL is one of the best companies for employees to grow in.

"Working on the ramp is very hard. A person who comes to the ramp needs to have patience. So, they need have to have courage. They have to be mentally fit. There are opportunities to work in this field at this airport, and to join here and advance [in the field] too," he said.

"I also started as a driver. But now, I've been training since 2009. Now I'm the senior trainer for all the equipment. So, I'm saying there's an opportunity here for anyone to get to this point."

Siddhheeqa Ibrahim started working at the airport about one year ago. She works as a passenger bus driver on the airport ramp, and is the first female employee to take up the job at MACL.

Before getting a job at the airport, Sidhheeqa did not even know how to drive this type of vehicle. She got the job after participating in an internship programme organised by the company.

"I got this job after participating in a six-month internship program. I joined here with a newly issued license too," she said.

"There is really no difference because I'm a woman, there's no trouble. I get a lot of support from everyone else."

While Siddheeqa spends about eight hours a day at work, it is still a very demanding job, with sometimes daily 20 trips on busy days.

"It's not something you can't do because you're a woman. It's very risky because you're taking people to a plane. But I don't feel the difficulty because of the support I get from my colleagues and management," she said.

Hassan Ali took up the job of an aircraft turn around officer because of his interest in aviation. Because of his love for the field, he worked very hard to get a job at the airport. He became an aircraft turn around office in 2018, on his third try.

However, today, Ali is a senior officer or loading supervisor in his speciality. He is responsible for managing all aspects of an aircraft on the ground from the time it lands until it takes off again.

"I've had a lot of trainings and [learned a lot] since I got this job. Now I'm playing the role of a TCO. At the same time, I'm now an IATA certified turnaround coordinator as well," he said.

"Now I am one of three certified TCOs for the Virgin Atlantic airline at MACL. There have been many such opportunities."

Ali said this is a great job for someone interested in aviation.

Ramp service supervisor, Abdulla Ziam is one of MACL's senior employees who provides aircrafts that land at the airport with the services required.

"What I do is deliver the stairs, highloaders, belts, and bagged that get taken to the aircraft," he said.

"At first we worked in a very small space. But now we are working in a very large environment, with a lot of staff and a lot of equipment. In the past, the apron was very small, on a small runway. Later on, we got a bigger runway and a bigger apron, which brought more advancement to the work."

Ziam said the field has room for growth despite it being a demanding job.

"The way it is here is that whether it rains or it gets hot, the work will continue. But this is a very good field to grow in," he said.

Although he joined the airport as an equipment operator, Ziam is now the most senior employee in his expertise. He said he got to that point because of the opportunities MACL provided for his growth.

These enthusiastic employees working on the ground of Velana Airport play an important role in the smooth running of air traffic. From carrying and checking baggage to ensuring the safety and convenience of passengers, these employees carry enormous responsibilities. They work long hours courageously even in harsh environments to ensure flights depart on time and passengers are safe reaching their destinations.