Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Safety Management System

2008

JDA was selected as a part of a team to develop a Safety Management System (SMS) for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pilot Program. This teamwork created a practical and efficient balance between safety and operational management. As part of the first step of developing the SMS, the team conducted a Gap Analysis and compared existing safety and operational components with SMS program requirements; identifying all operational elements that required refinement or development. Once the Gap Analysis was completed, a Safety Manual was devised that stated the overall policies and objectives of the Airport. The SMS Safety Manual describes how the system is structured, the procedures for managing the system and guiding the implementation process. An organizational was developed to define the roles and responsibilities of all key personnel involved in managing and carrying out the SMS. The Safety Manual also defined the key elements necessary for analyzing and assessing risk through risk management. Using the Safety Manual as a guide, the team developed an Implementation Plan to fill the operational needs identified in the Gap Analysis; implement the system-wide processes, procedures, and resources; and outline the necessary requirements for a successful culture shift throughout the entire organization. Now in place, the SMS has achieved the goals of identifying safety hazards, reducing risks and hazards, and providing continuous monitoring of the safety performance using safety policies and objectives.