ISSUES CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION
Implementation of Safety Management Systems at U.S. Airports
The FAA Office of Airports is moving forward with the implementation of safety management systems at
all Part 139 certificated airports in the U.S. This arises out of an international mandate by the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It will require that airports develop and implement
airport wide safety plans and protocols to be included in their Airport Certification Manuals. The FAA has
issued a draft advisory circular with guidelines for implementation. Under the proposed draft, airports
are encouraged to implement SMS within the airport AOA environment.
However, in a recent AAAE OSP Special conference call, Darryel Adams [FAA Airports Division Manager
for SMS programs], clarified that the FAA will move forward with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in
September 2007, which will mandate safety management systems for all Part 139 airports. He also
advised participants that the FAA had extended the deadline for the submission of comments on the draft
circular until January 16, 2007. AAAE is compiling comments submitted to them for a joint submission to
the FAA. Comments should be forwarded to James Freeman (AAAE Regulatory Affairs) at
James.Freeman@aaae.org.
Taxiway Centerline Light Amber/Green Color Coding
The recently updated version of FAA’s Advisory Circular AC 150 5340-30B contains discussion on the
applicability and use of the amber/green color sequence for use with taxiway centerline lights. This
particular combination has proven to be an effective visual cue for pilots to know when they are operating
in the runway environment by using centerline lights inside taxiway holdlines (lead-in, crossing, lead-out)
color sequenced in this way. However, the AC requires that the application of this lighting sequence be
extended to other defined “critical” areas (ILS, Localizer, etc.) and has been open to much interpretation
by Airports and FAA inspectors alike. The issue seems to be that portions of Glide Slope critical areas
are outside the immediate runway environment (i.e. between holdlines) and color-coding taxiway
centerline lights outside of the runway environment dilutes the purpose of alerting a flight crew that they
are still on a runway. This has led to much discussion and, at times, confusion at numerous airports and
throughout the various FAA Regions with their own interpretations. In addition, the AC calls for an overly
aggressive completion date of February 1, 2007. This is schedule is particularly acute when faced with
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