Automating Part 139 Processes is a Valuable Precursor to Safety Management Systems

The future requirement for Safety Management Systems (SMS) has become one of the top industry issues of current times. We hear about at airport conferences, in industry newsletters, on conference calls and at FAA meetings. However, there is a fundamental issue that has not been getting as much attention but is equally important: fixing the gaps that currently exist in our compliance of Part 139 processes. Part 139 represents the areas of greatest safety concern and is the foundation of SMS and should, therefore, be addressed as a precursor to SMS.

In our study of Part 139 processes at 38 airports in 2011-2012, we discovered that airports are either conducting all Part 139

reporting manually, or they have multiple automated systems working in silos for different reporting purposes. The use of separate systems for Part 139 Self-Inspection reporting and maintaining Operations Log is one example. This prevents airport managers from accessing critical, real-time operations information for benchmarking performance of movement and non-movement area safety planning.

It is worthwhile to step back and consider why Part 139 processes were either manual or comprised of disparate systems. To begin with, airside internet connectivity was expensive and unreliable. With advances in wireless devices such as iPads, Android notebooks and wireless cards for laptops, real-time inspection information can be stored in one system. Furthermore, as technology has become more affordable, there is no need for airports to develop homegrown applications to automate these different and complex processes.

The good news is that airports can now easily automate Part 139 processes. Automation is both affordable and sustainable in the long run. We have seen it first hand while steering several airports through the process. The amount of staff time needed to perform inspections decreases and early results show a reduction in airport operating costs as well. For airport managers, the significant advantages lie in having real-time operations information and the ability to gain insights from benchmarking data to better prepare for a variety of safety issues.

The automation also helps make airports "green." Advanced Part 139 systems allow easy real-time search, reporting and data dissemination capabilities, thus eliminating the need for paper files. Our research shows that airport operations can reduce paper, printing and consumption up to 50% by automating the majority of Part 139 processes. This helps airports achieve quantifiable and measurable success in becoming eco-friendly.

There is another very important benefit that is harder to quantify, but one that we have personally observed: a significant boost to the morale and productivity of airport staff. Operations personnel are keen to utilize the latest technology to quickly retrieve information about discrepancies without sifting through piles of paperwork. Furthermore, implementing a system to automate Part 139 processes demonstrates senior management's commitment to improving the working environment by providing better tools.

Most airports that have automated Part 139 processes have found the FAA to be supportive of the change. While these projects have to be funded by the airports, automating Part 139 processes is not capital intensive and offers a significant return on investment when taking into account both the quantifiable and non-quantifiable benefits of the project.

While we wait for SMS rulemaking, we have a significant opportunity to make airports safer by improving our Part 139 processes. A robust and automated Part 139 process infrastructure will provide the roadmap for a successful SMS implementation in the coming future.