The FAA has released a new rule that will assist airports with detecting and mitigating safety problems before they become accidents. The final rule requires certain airports to develop and implement a safety management system (SMS). The use of SMS programs by commercial airlines and many manufacturers helped foster the safest era in commercial aviation history. Fundamental to the program is identifying risks and then correcting potential safety issues before they result in accidents or incidents. The final rule applies to over 200 of America’s busiest commercial airports. The timeline to fully implement SMS ranges from four to five and a half years depending on the airports’ classification and operations. The rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Learn more here.
