FAA Issues New Airport Safety Rule

According to a statement released by the FAA, the final rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and is designed to improve safety at some 200 of the nation's busiest airports. 

These airports, per the FAA's draft of the rule, fall under Part 139 and qualify under one or more of the following criteria:

"The safe operation of our nation’s airports is paramount during these historic times in aviation as we work to repair and construct necessary airport infrastructure,” Shannetta Griffin, associate administrator for airports, said. “This rule promotes safety and allows airports to work collaboratively with partners to mitigate risks and avert accidents.”

The FAA noted that over the years the use of SMS programs in the aviation industry by manufacturers and commercial airlines has resulted in a decrease in accidents and incidents, as an SMS is designed to identify risks, then take steps to mitigate them before they result in an accident or incident.

The FAA has been exploring the concept of SMS, per Advisory Circular 150/5200, which has been updated over the years. The AC identifies the four areas of concern when developing an SMS as safety policy, safety assurance, safety risk management, and safety promotion. Users are encouraged to look at their own businesses and operations to identify weak spots that present risk, then develop procedures to mitigate these issues.

In many cases, a SMS is a living document as it is often adjusted to reflect changes in the productivity and culture of a business. There needs to be an emphasis on a culture of safety and communication so that employees have to feel comfortable reporting an issue.

The timeline to fully implement SMS per this rulemaking, ranges from four to five and a half years, depending on the airports’ classification and operations.