Safety Management Systems (SMS)
for Airports

With the expected growth in air transportation, we will need to make greater efforts and adopt new measures to continue improving aviation safety. The use of Safety Management Systems (SMS) at airports can contribute to this effort by helping airports detect and correct safety problems before they result in aircraft accidents or incidents. We plan to introduce SMS to airports in several ways:

• External SMS Efforts – Part 139 Rulemaking
  • Airport SMS Pilot Studies
  • Additional Guidance on SMS at Airports
• Internal SMS Efforts – FAA SMS and Safety Risk Management in Airport Projects

News & Information

• Airports eligible to receive AIP grants for Second Airport SMS Pilot Study (updated 2/25/2009)
• SMS for Airports - Findings of the First Pilot Study: PDF (780 KB), PPS (12 MB) (posted 11/4/2008)

SMS Guidance, Tools, & Related Information

• AC 150/5200-37, Introduction to Safety Management Systems for Airport Operators
• ICAO Safety Management Manual
• SMS Presentation for Airport Operators (PPS)
• Transportation Research Board (TRB) Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
  • ACRP Report 1, Safety Management Systems for Airports, Volume 1: Overview
• More >>

Questions

Keri Spencer
SMS Project Manager
Airport Safety and Operations Division
(202) 267-8972
keri.spencer@faa.gov