BACKGROUND

ACRP Synthesis 71 Airport Safety Risk Management Panel Activities and Outcomes was published in 2016 when 14 airports had participated in the FAA Part 139 Safety Management Systems (SMS) Implementation Study. In 2023, the FAA Part 139(e)401-403 final rule for SMS became effective, and Advisory Circular 150/5200-37A Safety Management Systems for Airports detailing and implementing SMS programs was released. The information in Synthesis 71 is almost 10 years old and as airports implement SMS, and the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process including Safety Risk Assessments (SRA), it is beneficial to update the synthesis.

OBJECTIVE & AUDIENCE

The objective of this synthesis is to describe current airport practices of Safety Risk Management processes to include a focus on Safety Risk Assessments. The audience for this synthesis is primarily airport operators conducting Safety Risk Assessments, and impacted stakeholders.

INFO TO BE GATHERED

Information to be described in a concise report includes (but is not limited to):

• A literature review to include:
  • Documenting the FAA rules and regulations applicable to SMS,
  • Describing the distinction between SRM and SRA,
  • And other applicable resources including ACRP publications.
• Documenting airport operator roles and responsibilities in airport-led SRA and SRM panels.
•  Documenting airport operator roles and responsibilities in other SRA and SRM panels.
• Documenting airport practices used in administering SRA, including:
  • Identifying triggers for conducting an SRM panel,
  • Identifying the panel facilitator and participants, such as SME’s and observers,
  •  Administering the panel processes, such as the process of scheduling, timelines, etc.,
  • How airports document and approve panel results,
  • The method for addressing and mitigating the outcomes of the SRA,
  • Documentation and materials that airports utilize when undertaking the SRA.
• Documenting airport best practices and lessons learned in conducting the SRA.

Information will be collected through literature review, a survey of airports, and interviews with selected airports for the development of case examples. Knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research, to address those gaps will also be identified.

STATUS: A reserach agency has been selected and the subaward process has started.