Safety Management System for Certificated Airports

The final rule requires applicable certificate holders to submit an updated Airport Certification Manual (ACM) for review and approval. It also requires submission of an implementation plan based on a staggered submission schedule (hub airports within 12 months of the effective date; 100,000+ operations airports within 18 months of the effective date; and internationals within 24 months of the effective date). The intent of the implementation plan is for the certificate holder to identify its plan for implementing SMS within the applicable areas and map its schedule for implementing the SMS requirements. While the implementation plan’s main purpose is to guide the certificate holder’s implementation, the plan also provides a basis for the FAA’s oversight during the development and implementation phases. The FAA’s review and approval of the implementation plan ensures that the certificate holder is given feedback early and before they may make significant capital improvements as part of their SMS development and implementation. In addition to updating the ACM, the certificate holder will collect data including hazard reports, Safety Risk Management (SRM) documentation, SMS related training records, and safety communications. The regulation does not require the certificate holder to submit this data to the FAA; rather, the certificate holder will use this data as part of its continuous improvement efforts and to proactively identify hazards and instances of non-compliance with safety requirements and standards. The certificate holder is required to provide data upon request, usually during the FAA’s periodic inspection. The final rule does not prescribe how the certificate holder must collect or retain data; rather it simply requires the types of records and length of time for retention. Airport operators applying for an Airport Operating Certificate would be required to comply with the SMS requirements prior to certification if they meet the triggering criteria identified in the regulation.

The latest form for Safety Management System for Certificated Airports expires 2026-06-30 and can be found here.

Section 139.205, Amendment of airport certification manual

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Transportation - Air Transportation