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Managing the complexity of risks and regulatory compliance: Looking at safety from both ways
Journal of Airport Management,
12
(4),
330-338
(2018)
Abstract
This paper reviews the top-down nature of regulation and makes the case for the benefits of a ‘bottom up’ approach using the principles of safety management systems. The logic of common international standards is outlined in the context of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). All airports are different — as Airport Council International (ACI) says, ‘When you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport’, and this relates to different hazards and risks found at different airports. Examples of layout and geography affecting specific risks are explained, recognising one size does not fit all. The case for detailed analysis of statistics is made to ensure a true understanding is obtained from the data. The importance of data collection is underlined and the need for reporting of events is identified as key to maximise understanding from the best picture of risk possible. Key performance indicators are discussed and the control, or lack of control, is explored for airports to achieve targets.
Keywords: risk; safety; reporting; targets; SMS
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Ian Witter joined BAA in 1985 and has spent his career in airside operations roles. He has worked at the British Airport Authority Head Office, Aberdeen Airport, Heathrow, Gatwick, and is currently head of airside regulation and oversight at Heathrow. Ian has carried out airside operations inspections and airside safety audits of all BAA airports and, between 1991 and 2002, held various airside operations management roles at Heathrow. These involved managing the airfield and duty teams, the Flight Evaluation Unit, and stand management. Ian moved to Gatwick in 2002, leading the airfield duty team through a number of changes, and then joined the then central airside operations team in 2004. His role then focused on safety auditing of company airports, bird hazard management, training and company airside standards. He has completed over 60 safety audits at many airports across seven countries. Ian has represented the company on Airports Council International Europe environmental committee and chaired the Technical & Operational Safety Committee. He has also been chair of the UK Aerodrome Operators Association Operations and Safety Committee 2011–2013. He has represented airports at EASA Rulemaking and Review Groups, Eurocontrol’s Runway Safety Group and ICAO Bird Hazard, Friction Task Force, PANS Aerodromes and the Aerodrome Design and Operations Panel. He is the recent past chair of the ACI World Safety and Technical Standing Committee.
