SMS Program

Connecting the DOTs...

December 2019 Airports Division Plans to Implement SMS Program By: Martinez Jacobs

The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Airports Division (HDOTA) is anticipating the pending implementation of the External Safety Management System (SMS) program. This effort would parallel the safety programs as required by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at other foreign airports worldwide. The Hawaii leadership understands the safety measures, program benefits and fully supports SMS initiation prior to it becoming a mandatory requirement by the FAA.

Airports throughout the State of Hawai’i are quite unique compared to those across the country. HDOTA owns and operates 15 public-use airports in the State of Hawaii. Eight are 14 CFR Part 139 certified airports and seven are general aviation airports, all of which are operated through one system. Due to this type of operation, HDOTA decided to create one Safety Policy with each airport developing their own unique set of Goals and Objectives. A Gap analysis and plans for implementation have been completed. The next step is the development of manuals which would be specific to each airport environment. This will include the air-side, up to the terminal.

The project is expected to be completed within the next several months and HDOTA is still conducting recruitment for additional Safety Management Specialist positions at each airport district office to continuing recruitment for an Operations Branch, SMS Manager position. Implementation of the SMS program is expected to begin in February 2020. Over the last three years, HDOTA personnel have been trained in Safety Management Systems by MITRE, AAAESMS, University of Southern California, ICAO and ACI.