Lessons Learned from Airport Safety Management Systems Pilot Studies (2012)

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45 BACKGROUND The majority of airports that participated in the ACRP Survey (19) were in the process of implementing the SMS. The Synthesis study was interested in discussing some of the challenges encountered and benefits achieved as part of the SMS studies. As the aviation industry expands, challenges are encoun- tered which must be mitigated through technology and improve- ments in business processes. ICAO comments that As global aviation activity and complexity continue to grow, deeply changed operational contexts with their new challenges make traditional methods of managing safety to an acceptable level less effective and efficient. Different, evolved methods of understanding and managing safety are necessary. There is a transition currently taking place in international civil aviation, which reflects a significant shift from the paradigm espoused by the safety endeavours of the past. [Therefore,] there is a developing tendency in civil aviation to integrate all these different management systems. There are clear benefits to such integration: a) reduction of duplication and therefore of costs; b) reduction of overall organizational risks and an increase in profitability; c) balance of potentially conflicting objectives; d) elimination of potentially conflicting responsibilities and relationships; and e) diffusion of power systems (ICAO 2009). The ACRP Guidebook provides a listing of common chal- lenges relating to the implementation and adoption of a SMS. Challenges include management commitment, behavioral change, maintaining momentum, cultural characteristics, taking responsibility for safety, and airport stakeholders. The Guidebook documents various strategies and solutions to address challenges for airport operators, including the state- ment, “SMS will require change, and people are naturally resistant to change. Too often, the importance of this human characteristic is disregarded. If not handled properly, it can lead to misunderstanding and frustration” (Ayers et al. 2009). CHAPTER CONTENTS This chapter presents findings from the questions relating to program challenges, benefits, and the airport’s commitment to continue SMS in the future. Five questions were asked relating to challenges, how challenges were overcome, pro- gram benefits achieved, and the airport’s planned pursuit of SMS in the future. FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS Challenges The Synthesis was interested in capturing responses from the FAA pilot airports to discuss how identified challenges were overcome. The lessons learned from airport’s meth- ods to resolve or mitigate challenges could provide practical advice to airports in the future as they implement a SMS. As presented in Figure 29, of the 26 airports surveyed, the top three challenges were 1. Lack of FAA support/resources (six); 2. Stakeholder buy-in (six); and 3. Educating staff (four). The FAA’s May 2011 Technical Report, Federal Aviation Administration Airport Safety Management Systems (SMS) Pilot Studies, states, “In general, airport operators found the guidance was sufficient. They suggested we further clarify areas such as SMS development, support tools, and templates” (FAA 2011). However, as indicated in Figure 30, survey results from the Synthesis study respondents indicate that lack of FAA support was one of the two most significant challenges identi- fied among the survey respondents. As reported in Table 11, the most frequent document reportedly used by SMS pilot study airports was the AC 150/5200-37 Introduction to Safety Management Systems for Airport Operators. The AC was authored in early 2007 and until the SMS NPRM was published in October 2010, no other FAA-authored guidance documents existed. Additionally, airports surveyed noted that the impor- tance of the AC over all other documents was its ability to provide insights into the future FAA rulemaking. With regard to mitigations or methods to overcome the challenges, a variety of responses were collected, as shown in Figure 30. The top two frequent replies were “getting stake- holder buy-in” (six) and “lack of FAA support/resources” (six). Other methods that SMS pilot study airports believed would help overcome the challenges they faced include networking, working with local FAA offices, raising aware- ness, persistence, training, time management, and hiring experts. chapter seven SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS

46 Benefits Early in the survey (Question 11), airports were asked if they had seen benefits as a result of the SMS studies they had participated in or programs developed after the studies were completed. The most frequent response from all the airports, as presented in Table 25, was increased safety awareness. The second most common response was improved collaboration. Many airports saw better communication and collaboration both internally among airport departments and with tenants through safety committee meetings and SRA panel sessions. Pursuit of Safety Management Systems The final two questions in the survey asked respondents if their airport would continue the development and implementation of the SMS. Figure 31 presents responses from all airports, with 24 replying “yes” and only two responding “no.” When asked why airports would continue with implementa- tion of the SMS components (Figure 32), more than half (14) indicated it was because the program was beneficial, one-third (seven) indicated that it would likely be a regulatory require- ment, and others spoke of the increased safety awareness. LESSONS LEARNED The FAA NPRM states that, While the NTSB has not formally recommended the FAA require an SMS for certificated airports, the FAA has concluded those same organizational factors apply to all regulated sectors of the aviation industry. Airports operate in similar environments as air carriers and business flight operators where adherence to standard operating procedures, proactive identification, mitigation of hazards and risks, and effective communications are crucial to continued operational safety. Accordingly, certificated airports could realize similar SMS benefits as an aircraft operator. The FAA envisions an SMS would provide an airport with an added layer of safety to help reduce the number of near-misses, incidents, and accidents. An SMS also would ensure that all levels of airport manage- ment understand safety implications of airfield operations (FAA 2010). FIGURE 29 Most significant SMS challenge. FIGURE 30 Methods to overcome challenges. In cr ea se d S af et y A w ar en es s Im pr ov ed C ol la bo ra tio n Im pr ov ed C om m un ic at io n Im pr ov ed D oc um en ta ti on In cr ea se d Se cu ri ty N on e at T hi s T im e Class I 10 5 3 4 0 0 Class II 1 1 1 0 0 1 Class IV 6 0 0 0 1 0 Count 17 6 4 4 1 1 TABLE 25 BENEFITS FROM SMS PROGRAM

47 The FAA further reports in the May 2011 report on SMS implementations that, with regard to SMS pilot study benefits, “Overall, airport operators benefitted from improved commu- nication and increased safety awareness” (FAA 2011). Challenges Survey results from the Synthesis study report that lack of FAA support was one of the most significant challenges. Lesson Learned: Airports are awaiting additional resources and forthcoming SMS guidance from the FAA. Benefits Predictive safety relies on collecting and compiling informa- tion in a proactive manner. SMS provides a framework for improved data collection and analysis with regard to safety. Hazard analysis and safety risk assessments allow management to formally document safety concerns. Lesson Learned: Improved communication, increased safety awareness, integration of disparate departments and staff through collective assessment of risk and budgets, and data collection and trending analysis to provide a higher level of awareness are reported as benefits of the SMS pilot studies. FIGURE 31 Continuation of SMS. FIGURE 32 Reasons to pursue SMS program.