A Day in the Life of Matthew Sandknop-Haas, London City Airport

Matthew Sandknop-Haas, Aircraft Turnaround Lead at London City Airport, spoke to myGwork about the unique leadership skills required to run ground operations at airports. He also discusses the challenging aspects of the role, as well as a glimpse into a typical day at work.

Tell us a bit about your role and how you got here?

I lead a team of around 10-15 persons who are responsible for the safe and efficient aircraft ground operations. This includes everything from marshalling, ground equipment, offloading and loading of passenger bags, liaising with dispatchers, aircraft startups, etc... I’ve worked at London City Airport for about 15 months and was made a team leader (ATL for short) in February of this year. Aviation has always been a passion of mine but it’s only recently that I’ve been able to make this a reality. Before LCY, I worked for 7 years as a music teacher and then more recently in retail management. On the side I’m a coach for London Frontrunners, an LGBTQ+ inclusive running club and I provide running tours for Secret London Runs.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

10 years ago, I’d never seen myself taking the life journey that I’m on now. I would love to develop myself further and grow into leadership roles. I can’t wait to discover what the aviation field has in store for me.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day on the ramp is different. A typical start will be signing in with the duty officer and collecting the equipment that my team will need for the shift. I’ll get the information I need to pass on to my team, such as amount of aircraft movements to expect, what the first outbound flights are going to be, staff changes, any notices or operational changes, etc... I then plan out the start of the shift (giving the team briefing, planning who’s going on what aircraft, etc...). Once the day begins, I communicate with the stand planner to find out what planes my section will be getting then sharing this information with the team. I will then allocate different team members on different aircraft to make sure the turnaround is safe and efficient. During the shift, I look after the staff well-being, making sure they take a break during the shift and to assist wherever I’m needed.

What part of your role do you enjoy the most?

My team! These people are paramount to my success at London City Airport. From my first day out on the ramp as a trainee to now as their team leader, they have supported my journey every step of the way. The support, kindness and friendship everyone has shown makes this job great.

Which top three skills are vital for this role and why?

Communication – being able to lead the team efficiently and effectively by giving them all the information needed is vital

Situational Awareness – You always need to know what’s going on around the ramp, as it can be a dangerous place if you’re not aware of your surroundings.

Being adaptable – even with all the planning I can do, things change at a moment’s notice.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your role?

The job can be quite physically demanding, especially during the high season. We do our best to alleviate this by sharing the aircraft load. I do my best to not get overwhelmed and to support my team with whatever they need.

How do you help others feel like they belong in your team/promote inclusion?

I treat everyone the same and I expect the same from every member of my team. We have all different types of people from all different backgrounds. But as a team, we look at each other as just different people doing the same job. As a team, we do not accept any discrimination between ourselves or anywhere else on the ramp. No matter who you are, you will be welcome.

Which podcast/Youtube series would you recommend to someone interested in pursuing a career in this area to help develop their skills/prepare them for the role?

I can’t recommend any particular youtube series or podcast, but any search on operations at an airport can give you a great idea what it’s like to work out on the ramp.