Airport Safety Management Systems: Integrating Planning Into the Process Kenneth Jacobs Senior Airport Planner FAA Airport Planning and Environmental Division ken.jacobs@faa.gov
SMS Defined A process for achieving acceptable levels of safety risk* Elements Policy Commitment Boundaries Safety Risk Management Analyze and control (or mitigate) risks System Changes Risk acceptance Assurance System performance Hazard identification Promotion Communication, outreach, culture and human resources * * FAA Order 8000.369, Safety Management System Guidance
Airports (ARP) SMS Airport Operations (external) Part 139 Airport Operator Responsibility Project Level (internal) Airport Development Shared Responsibility with the Airport Integrates with Air Traffic Organization (ATO) SMS 8000.369: Under certain circumstances, such as Federal financial participation in airport development projects, FAA will coordinate risk management with airports to ensure both party s SRM responsibilities are completed in a complementary manner.
Multiple FAA SMS Versions FAA Oversight Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Acquiring and Implementing New Systems Air Traffic Control Equipment and Facility Maintenance Flight Inspection Flight Procedure Development Charting Office of Airports (ARP) Part 139 Airport Development Projects Aviation Safety (AVS) Aircraft Certification Flight Standards
SMS Roles Safety Oversight FAA performs safety oversight of aviation product/service providers Aviation Product/Service Providers What Responsible for managing safety for their operations In a position to directly control risk May or may not manage safety by means of an SMS Who Design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft & components Operation of aircraft Management and operation of air traffic Development & maintenance of aviation system infrastructure Training and qualification of personnel Standards, guidance and regulations
Safety Risk Management (SRM) ICAO The identification, analysis and elimination or mitigation of hazards to an acceptable level of risk FAA/ATO The process and practices used to assess changes to the National Airspace System (NAS) for safety risk, and continuous monitoring of any controls to reduce risk to acceptable levels Airport Development New Standards, Technologies, and Techniques Temporary Changes (construction operations) Risk => Hazard plus Likelihood SRM Process Existing Risk Change System Change Risk Mitigate Risk Accept Risk Safety Risk Management Document Safety Risk Management Decision Memo FAA/ARP? ATO SRM Process
Mitigating Risks Defined- Actions taken to reduce the risk of a hazard s effects How? Modify Infrastructure, Equipment, Operating procedures, restrictions and limitations, Organizational structure and staffing Who Flight Standards Air Traffic Airports (ARP) Part 139 Assurances Design and Construction Standards These are indirect risk mitigation strategies
System Components Infrastructure, Equipment, and Operations Infrastructure and equipment can (almost always) be operated in a safe manner Therefore, system operations determine system safety: Procedures, Limitations, Restrictions SMS balances operational production and risk Therefore infrastructure should permit a safe operation that meets production demands Airport production can be measured in terms of capacity, efficiency and utility Infrastructure Provided by Airports, funded and supported by ARP Operations Provided by Air Traffic (ATO), Airports, Flight Standards, etc
Project Life Cycle & SRM Decisions Time Line Planning Construction -Infrastructure -Operations The system change is in-place
Project Life Cycle and SRM Risks and mitigations do not exist before construction begins SRMD Plan Design Planning Safety Assessment Construct Operate
Planning Safety Assessment Develop Alternatives Preliminary Hazard Identification Preliminary Risk Assessment Identify Potential Limitations Aircraft Taxiways Runways Procedures Capacity Accept Efficiency, Capacity and Utility Targets
Concurrent Planning Planning should start with the end in mind operational benefits for the aviation system Initial planning must include safety considerations Begin with a complete complement of stakeholders, including operations safety Capture and apply critical safety decisions to each subsequent phase of the airport planning and development process