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Inspections are vital to any industry that values safety and endeavors to enhance quality. Without a thorough self-review, opportunities for improvement or correction may be missed or ignored altogether. In the aviation industry inspections are especially critical, as the indus- try is responsible for safely transporting hundreds of thousands of people across the globe on a daily basis. Among airports, self-inspections are an important aspect of any safety program. Self-inspections, which are required at airports certificated under Title 14, Code of Fed- eral Regulations Part 139 (Part 139), allow an airport to ensure regulatory compliance on a daily basis and are seen by the FAA as the cornerstone of the airport operatorâs overall safety program. During a self-inspection, primary attention is given to such operational items as pavement areas, safety areas, markings, signs, lighting, aircraft rescue and firefighting, fuel- ing operations, navigational aids, ground vehicles, obstructions, public protection, wildlife hazard management, construction, and snow and ice control. In the United States, the FAA is responsible for overseeing self-inspection programs in place at airports certificated under Part 139. This oversight is carried out by a team of nearly 40 FAA airport certification safety inspectors throughout the nine FAA regions, through an on-site inspection process. This inspection typically occurs annually, but may also occur unannounced at any time. To determine the airportâs compliance with Part 139, the inspector reviews airport files, including the Airport Certification Manual, self-inspection forms, train- ing records, and Notices to Airmen; and conducts a movement area inspection, an aircraft res- cue and firefighting inspection, a fueling facilities inspection, and a night inspection. Although one is not required by Part 139, non-certificated airports typically have in place some degree of a self-inspection program. This practice is encouraged by the FAA and enables an airport to ensure airfield safety and to comply with various standards. Generally, all airports, whether or not certificated under Part 139, use this regulation as a baseline for a self-inspection program. Although there are similarities among airports regarding their self-inspection programs and the training of personnel to carry out these programs, wide variation exists among air- ports in these areas. The objective of this synthesis was to review and compile current prac- tices among airports regarding self-inspection programs. For the purposes of this synthesis, a comprehensive self-inspection program includes the components of training; inspecting; reporting discrepancies and findings; follow-up, resolution, and close-out; and quality control. This report is intended mainly for airport operators, including those personnel charged with conducting airport self-inspections, and the management and staff responsible for Part 139 compliance, including the self-inspection program and the training of personnel to implement that program. Additionally, senior airport officials, state and local officials, airport board members, and members of the media may find aspects of the report informative. This synthesis consists primarily of a literature-based review of airport self-inspection guidance and regulations, as well as current airport self-inspection practices. Sources for the literature review include the FAA, U.S.DOT, various state aviation agencies, relevant SUMMARY AIRPORT SELF-INSPECTION PRACTICES
studies on self-inspection procedures and training practices, sample airport self-inspection checklists, and state and federal checklists. To supplement this review of literature, three unique questionnaires were developed specific to this project. First, 40 U.S. airports were selected to receive a 40-item questionnaire. With a response rate of 83%, valid data were obtained from 33 airports in this group on all components of an airport self-inspection program; they are detailed in this report. Second, the lead airport cer- tification safety inspector in each of the nine FAA regions was surveyed using a seven-item ques- tionnaire. Responses from seven of the nine regions provide insight into the FAA oversight of airport self-inspection programs and common practices within each region. Lastly, each of the state aviation agencies was surveyed with a 14-item questionnaire. Responses from 49 of the 50 U.S. states provide insight into state-level oversight of non-certificated airports. In addition, a number of representatives from the FAA and the topic panel provided input for this report. Summary findings from this synthesis, representing 33 airports throughout the United States, as well as seven FAA airport lead certification safety inspectors and 49 state aviation agencies, are as follows. TRAINING ⢠Both initial and recurrent training are provided in-house at the majority of airports. ⢠Operations personnel conduct self-inspection training at the majority of airports. ⢠Most airports follow Part 139 guidelines by conducting initial training as personnel are hired, and recurrent training annually. ⢠At most airports, operations personnel comprise the employee group receiving all components of Part 139 training. ⢠For initial training, most airports rely on on-the-job training and self-study. ⢠For recurrent training, most airports rely on on-the-job and interactive training. INSPECTING ⢠Most airports conduct inspections visually, with one person in a vehicle and a paper self-inspection checklist. ⢠Most airports utilize a varied inspection pattern and conduct both night and day inspections. ⢠Operations personnel conduct self-inspections at most airports. ⢠Most airports allow tenant personnel to ride along on self-inspections by request only. REPORTING DISCREPANCIES AND FINDINGS ⢠Most airports use some form of electronic work order system to report discrepancies. ⢠Some airports have incorporated a geographic information system into the reporting process to allow exact coordinates of located discrepancies. FOLLOW-UP, RESOLUTION, AND CLOSE-OUT ⢠Most airports use some form of electronic work order system to follow up on reported discrepancies, with many also confirming resolution by e-mail or face-to-face. ⢠Visual verification of completed work often follows a closed-out work order. QUALITY CONTROL ⢠To minimize complacency among inspection personnel, most airports emphasize train- ing and proper management oversight. 2
⢠Of the human factors identified in the study, complacency and fatigue have the most significant impact on self-inspection personnel and their ability to carry out an airport self-inspection program. OVERSIGHT ⢠Seven of the nine FAA regions have observed many common practices related to self- inspections and the training of inspection personnel. ⢠The vast majority of state aviation agencies are responsible for inspecting (whether annually, biennially, or triennially) the non-certificated, public-use airports within their state. ⢠Most states issue an airport license. ⢠The four areas receiving the most focus from state aviation agencies during an inspec- tion are markings, signs, and lighting; obstructions; pavement areas; and safety areas. The report provides insight into common airport self-inspection practices and may be use- ful to airports in benchmarking their self-inspection programs to peer airports and practices considered successful by regional FAA personnel. 3
