Ramp specialists or agents are part of the airport’s ground crew, supporting aircraft while they are on the ground. Their work includes aircraft pushback, headset communications, operating the passenger loading bridge (PLB), and conducting ramp safety checks.
Cedric, a ramp specialist at SATS Asia Pacific Star, stands out for his strong commitment to safety. He has received several awards for his careful work and dedication.
Frence Cedric Bicoy, Ramp Specialist, SATS Asia Pacific Star (Editor's Note: Cedric has since been promoted to a Duty Manager)
Cedric works on the airport ramp, helping with aircraft and ground operations. Like other ramp agents, he makes sure planes arrive, turn around, and leave safely by staying alert for hazards and following set procedures.
His focus on safety has earned respect from his colleagues, supervisors, and airline customers.
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SATS Asia Pacific Star (APS) is one of SATS' subsidiaries supporting the Group's low-cost carrier handling business. SATS is a leading gateway services provider for low-cost and full-service carriers from Singapore Changi Airport and other key airports around the world, providing operational solutions that combine efficiency, safety, and service quality.
As part of this network, APS supports airline customers through a comprehensive range of airport services, including passenger handling, baggage services, aircraft handling, security services, and cargo handling. These services help airlines maintain safe, efficient, and reliable operations while supporting passengers throughout their journey.
Cedric remembers March 2021, when he was on headset duty for a routine flight. Everything seemed normal until, during the operation, he spotted a faulty anti-collision light.
It would have been easy to miss, but Cedric knew he needed to report the problem right away. The issue was sent to the right teams and fixed before it became a bigger risk.
As it happens, the issue wasn’t just a small technical error — it could have caused a dangerous safety risk to the flight and its passengers. Thanks to Cedric’s keen eye for safety, the team prevented a potential hazard.
During another flight, while he was handling aircraft pushback, Cedric spotted a defective aircraft part. He quickly flagged it to his supervisors and the flight crew, and the issue was then resolved.
Cedric’s vigilance didn’t go unnoticed. He was awarded the SATS PCEO Safety Excellence Award, which is given to employees who show outstanding job knowledge, skills, and commitment to the organisation’s core values, in particular, safety.
When asked why he remains so vigilant, his answer is simple: “I think about the passengers. They’re people like me, with families waiting for them. I want them to have a safe journey.”
Cedric has received various accolades over the years: SATS APS' Employee of the Month, Changi Airport Group's SAFE Award, SATS PCEO Safety Excellence Award
Ramp operations take place in one of the airport’s busiest spots. Aircraft, special vehicles, equipment, and people often work in the same place at once.
Tasks like aircraft pushback, baggage loading, cargo handling, boarding bridge operations, and aircraft servicing all rely on good safety practices and following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
For ramp agents like Cedric, safety means staying alert, spotting hazards, and speaking up if something seems off. These steps help keep passengers, crew, and airport staff safe.
Cedric's strong work ethic took time to build. That mindset was shaped before he joined SATS APS.
Cedric was a Quality and Safety Administrator at Sharjah Airport Free Zone in the UAE before joining SATS APS in 2018. Although the role gave him a solid understanding of safety procedures, he thinks that his own approach is based on a sense of gratitude and responsibility.
“SATS has given me so much," he shares. "I’ve been able to build a house for my family and travel to different places because of this job.”
It is this same gratitude that fuels him to go above and beyond his duties as a ramp specialist.
“They ask me to walk one mile? I’ll walk ten,” he adds with a modest smile. “I want to give back by doing my best every day.”
Cedric’s job as a Ramp Specialist requires him to be versatile
The work of a Ramp Specialist can be taxing for both the body and mind. Cedric’s role requires him to be versatile and ready to assist wherever needed.
One day, he could be driving tractors; the next, he might be operating the passenger loading bridge or handling headset duties. In peak travel periods, the stress on the tarmac and ground agents is intense as they need to support consecutive flights with tight turnarounds. But Cedric has his own way of keeping his spirits high, even on tough days.
“I remind myself that the hard part is temporary. After work, I get to go home to my wife, and that thought keeps me going,” he explains. It may be a simple thought, but it works.
Cedric also believes that a positive mindset creates ripples. “If I come to work with a cheerful attitude and do my job well, my colleagues will notice and follow suit. But if I slack off, others might do the same. I want to set a good example.”
His approach to work is straightforward: Make life easier for everyone around you. “The world is tough enough as it is. Why make it harder for others? Let’s be kind and do good — it makes work better and easier for everyone.”
In Cedric’s six years with APS, it’s not the awards or recognition he’s most proud of, but how he has lived by his principles.
“I never expected awards or promotions,” he shares. “I just do the right thing, even when no one is looking.” And it is evident that Cedric’s integrity runs deep. As a proud SATS PCEO Safety Excellence Awardee, he offers a nugget of wisdom: Safety isn’t something you switch on and off. It’s about building habits.
“Follow the SOP from day one. When you’ve always done the right thing, it becomes a habit. And when safety is a habit, you don’t even have to think about it — it’s automatic,” he expounds.
For Cedric, safety is more than a poster on the wall — it's second nature.
Q: What are the job responsibilities of ramp agents at the airport?
Ramp agents are part of the airport ground handling team responsible for supporting aircraft while they are on the ground. Their work can include aircraft pushback, headset communications, passenger loading bridge operations, baggage handling, cargo handling, and ramp safety checks that help support safe and efficient flight departures.
Q: What is aircraft pushback?
Aircraft pushback is the process of moving an aircraft away from the gate using specialised ground support equipment before it begins taxiing to the runway.
Q: What is headset duty in airport ground handling?
Headset duty involves maintaining direct communication between the flight crew and ground handling personnel during aircraft turnaround and departure activities. Ground staff on headset duty help relay operational information and ensure important procedures are completed before an aircraft departs.
Q: What is a passenger loading bridge?
A passenger loading bridge (PLB), sometimes called an aerobridge or jet bridge, is the enclosed walkway that connects the airport terminal to the aircraft. Ground handling teams operate and position the bridge to help passengers board and disembark safely.
Q: What does a tractor do at an airport?
Airport tractors are specialised vehicles used by ground handling teams to move baggage carts, cargo dollies, and other equipment around the ramp. These vehicles help support aircraft turnaround operations by ensuring baggage, cargo, and equipment are transported efficiently between the terminal, cargo facilities, and aircraft.
