The Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic process aimed at managing risk. Like all operating systems, it identifies, plans and measures the performance for the achievement of the set objectives. SMS requires integration into the company organization and culture and into its daily business. Any organizations involved in the air transport chain must guarantee they have the organizational tools and procedures in place to ensure the highest safety standards.

EASA rules require the implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS) by the airport operator. Airports with traffic in excess of 5,000 commercial movements per year shall fulfill this obligation. The main elements of an SMS are identified below:

• definition of the Airport Operator safety policies;
• planning and organization of the system;
• setup of the Reporting System;
• periodic planning and systematic auditing;
• risk assessment process;
• system review and improvement.
  

SMS is a cross organizational system involving every single activity taking place in the airport, and its effective implementation requires a constant effort aimed at increasing the staff awareness at all company levels. Our Technical and Operational experience enables us to approach the SMS in a comprehensive and systematic way both during start up implementation and during existing system improvement process.