What is the primary purpose of the arrival/departure check?

The primary purpose of the arrival/departure check is indeed to identify any new damage to the aircraft. This check is crucial for maintaining safety standards and ensuring that the aircraft is in optimal condition before it departs or after it arrives. Ramp agents conduct a thorough visual inspection of the aircraft to spot any signs of damage, which could have occurred during taxiing, loading, or unloading processes. By identifying any new damage, agents can report it and ensure that necessary repairs are made before the aircraft is cleared for its next flight. This proactive approach is vital for the safety of passengers and crew and helps prevent operational disruptions due to unforeseen maintenance issues.

While timely boarding, verifying passenger lists, and checking fueling logistics are important tasks performed by ramp agents, they are secondary to the critical function of inspecting and safeguarding the aircraft’s integrity.