Babbitt: SMS Helps FAA Manage Risk And Challenges Of New
Technology
The FAA’s Air Traffic Organization is now operating under
a Safety Management System. This enables the FAA to manage
the risks associated with changes in the National Airspace System
that include installing, modifying and removing equipment, as well
as modifying and implementing procedures and airspace changes.
“An effective safety management system lets us manage both
the risks and the challenges of introducing new technology into the
National Airspace System,” said Randy Babbitt, FAA
Administrator (pictured, below). “Practically speaking, SMS
is as important as the new technology itself. We're able to
assess risks with a standardized approach. SMS will be a huge
boost for NextGen.”
The Safety Management System serves as a framework to allow the
FAA to identify, assess and manage safety risks associated with
changes to the National Airspace System (NAS). For example,
as NextGen technology is introduced into the airspace system, an
air traffic safety team will conduct a risk analysis and document
the technology’s safety impact on the NAS. The FAA conducted
this type of review for the Automatic Dependent Surveillance
– Broadcast (ADS-B) technology before it became operational
in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2004, the FAA initiated a plan to implement an agency-wide
Safety Management System, in accordance with requirements the
International Civil Air Navigation Organization (ICAO) has
established. Four main components make up the Safety Management
System: safety policy, safety assurance, safety risk management,
and safety promotion. Safety policy defines the safety management
system philosophy, how implementation is carried out, and
functions, processes, and responsibilities. Safety assurance
measures the safety of the NAS through reviews, evaluations,
audits, inspections, investigations, and data tracking and
analysis. Safety risk management identifies hazards and mitigations
to safety risks. Safety Promotion includes training and
communication of lessons learned, which contribute to promoting a
positive safety culture.
“I am extremely pleased at the dedication and hard work of
safety professionals across the Air Traffic Organization that has
led to the approval of the Safety Management System,” Babbitt
said.
The FAA’s Aviation Safety and Airports offices will also
establish Safety Management Systems by the end of fiscal year
2010.