Aviation Safety Management

The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) was authorized as part of the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) executed a contract with the National Academies, acting through its Transportation Research Board (TRB), to serve as manager of the ACRP. Program oversight and governance are provided by representatives of airport operating agencies.

Working with the TRB through the ACRP, RS&H developed a synthesis document to review safety management and security operations at general aviation airports across the United States. The study focused on airports that primarily accommodate general aviation activity (outside of TSA Part 1542 and FAR Part 139 requirements).

Safety management is defined as policies and procedures/practices designed to protect the safety of an airport’s users, visitors, and employees (not infrastructure, design standards, or OSHA standards). Security practices are defined as policies and procedures/practices designed to protect the security of aircraft, facilities, and persons in the airport environment from criminal, terrorist, or other threats.

RS&H surveyed airports, fixed-base operators, and universities to gather information regarding the current practice of aviation safety and security. Then, we conducted follow-up interviews to identify those airports that had unique policies and procedures in place. The synthesis report identified the costs and benefits associated with various safety measures and security practices, as well as the trade-offs that are made by general aviation airport operators and tenants in determining which practices to implement.