FAA Issues Safety Guidance Applicable to Airports

The FAA recently issued Order 5200.11 (Order), effective August 30, 2010, which will be of interest to airport operators and sponsors for several reasons. Beginning June 1, 2011, most significant new actions taken at small-, medium-, or large-hub airports must undergo a safety risk management (SRM) safety assessment process, as outlined in the Order. Such reviews for all other airports within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) will be phased in by June 1, 2014. The Order also provides that airport sponsors will be required to certify that they have reviewed and understand the results of the SRM assessment and that they will implement the mitigation measures identified in the SRM process in a timely manner. Further, the Order provides a preview of the upcoming rulemaking implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS) at all Part 139 certificated airports. Lastly, the issuance of the Order in its final form continues an unsettling recent trend whereby the FAA has issued final guidance without the opportunity for public review and comment.

Actions Requiring an SRM Assessment

The Order requires that, beginning June 1, 2011, the FAA's Office of Airports (ARP)-produced airport standards and project-specific approvals that could impact aviation safety must undergo an SRM safety assessment. Specifically, the following actions require a safety assessment:

Development of and updates to airport planning, environmental, engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance standards published in Advisory Circulars FAA review of new or revised Airport Layout Plans (ALPs) Construction project coordination, review, or approval for federally obligated airports, including Construction Safety Phasing Plans Approval of Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Planning Program measures that could affect aviation safety (such as noise abatement departure procedures) Approval of requests for project-specific Modifications of Standards (excluding AC 150/5370-10) Non-construction changes, including runway and taxiway designations, airfield pavement markings and signage (excluding normal maintenance), runway categories (design aircraft), and in coordination with other FAA lines of business for planned approach or departure procedure changes Modification or update to any action that could represent a material change from a previous SRM review or safety assessment FAA decisions on operational or safety-related issues (complex airfield projects...