ACI World releases the ACI Safety Management Systems Handbook

Montreal, 17 May 2016 – Airports Council International (ACI) has announced the release of the ACI Safety Management Systems (SMS) Handbook. The goal of this indispensable resource is to bring together best practices, knowledge and experience from aerodromes around the world in order to help aerodrome operators create a robust SMS using the Plan, Do, Check, Act method.

 “The idea of an ACI guidance handbook on SMS emerged from discussions in the Safety and Technical Standing Committee,” notes Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World. “ACI had already published an SMS Gap Analysis Tool and a chapter on SMS in the Airside Safety Handbook, and wished to follow up by producing an action-orientated guide for aerodrome operators.”

According to ICAO Annex 14, it is mandatory for a certified aerodrome to have an SMS. This is a standard for aerodromes used for international operations and it is recommended that it should also apply to aerodromes open to public use for domestic operations. The ACI SMS Handbook provides a reference based on ICAO SMS principles, but it is also specifically adapted to the aerodrome operator domain. “Developing an SMS can never be an ‘off-the-shelf’ system,” continues Director General Gittens. “In order to function properly, such a system must be fully tailored to the circumstances of the individual aerodrome.” 

The ACI SMS Handbook provides guidance in the planning, implementation and operation of an airport SMS, and explains how a systems approach to safety management can benefit both the safety and business activities of airports. As an adjunct to the publication, ACI’s Global Training also offers a range of courses relevant to SMS, available both in the classroom and online.

Notes to editors

1. Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2016, ACI serves 592 members operating 1,853 airports in 173 countries. For more information on ACI, please click here. 

2. To order the ACI SMS Handbook, please click here.

3. To learn more about ACI Global Training Safety courses, please click here.

4. To download a PDF of this media release, please click here.

Media contact

Ryan White
Manager, Communications
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1226
Email: rwhite@aci.aero

–ENDS–