Over the last 20 years, the reduction in aircraft accident rates has been due to proactive and predictive safety measures implemented through state safety program and safety management system. Likewise, gradual enhancement of security measures is achieved using advanced screening technology, threat assessment, and behaviour detection through analytics and the security management system. The pandemic had a significant impact on the aviation industry, with decreased operations, revenue loss, and idle aircraft, among other things, which brought many challenges to the industry. The reactivation of the human resources and assets, especially inoperative aircraft, will be a huge task when the traffic accelerates. This chapter is a simplified form of safety and security management with processes/models to assess and mitigate the risks to ensure safety and security performance. In addition, this chapter highlights broader issues foreseen due to pandemics and describes models to evaluate additional risks comprehensively and mitigate them.
TopIntroduction
Maintaining aviation safety and security is the primary goal of all parties involved in the aviation industry. Safety and security are two separate tasks but frequently overlap each other. To understand the requirements of the twin aspects, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 's Annex 19 for safety and Annex 17 for security provide the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). ICAO SARPs help harmonizes aviation worldwide. Therefore, the safety and security performance and measures must adhere to ICAO SARPs. ICAO also has publications such as Documents for implementation guidelines. Documents relevant to this subject are Doc 9859- Safety Management Manual and Document 8973 - Aviation Security Manual.
International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 290 airlines in 120 countries, carrying 83% of the world's air traffic, has published manuals on many subjects, including safety and security. It also publishes safety reports, holds training programs and conducts safety and security audits. Similarly, Airports Council International (ACI), representing 1950 airports with 717 members in 185 countries, has publications on safety and security subjects. It also conducts training programs for aviation professionals and conducts webinars. In addition, its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) and Airport Carbon Accreditation programs are popular. State Regulators like FAA, EASA, and CAA (UK) provide additional guidance.
Proactive and predictive measures are the most effective ways to improve safety performance. While the States define their State Safety Program (SSP) through Acceptable Level of Safety, Service Providers apply Safety Management System (SMS). Therefore, one of the most critical service providers' tasks is developing and executing effective SMS.
Because of its vulnerabilities and the human, psychological, and economic consequences, aircraft is a target for assaults. Planes are clear targets easily connected with a specific country, and a successful assault results in many casualties. The State is solely responsible for aviation security. Nonetheless, risk-mitigation strategies enhance passengers' safety, minimize disturbance, ensure passenger convenience, and facilitate coordination with all aviation sector stakeholders. The security measures required by airlines and airports are prescribed as SARPs by ICAO, which establishes an outcome-based requirement without identifying the technology used. ICAO Doc 8973 (restricted) provides implementation guidelines. When the threat perception changes or security breaches/incidents happen, already established preventive measure processes require modifications. Also, the preventive measure processes differ from airport to airport and between the States. Even within a particular State, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy.
ACI reports that 20% of airports handled more than 1 million passengers per annum, whereas 80% handled less than 1 million passengers per annum. Out of 68% of airports that do not make a profit, most airports are small airports. On the other hand, these small airports contribute to society by connecting distant cities, feeding traffic to larger airports, and providing socio-economic benefits by bringing communities together. Hence, technology adopted for safety or security need not be the same at all airports. Some innovative ideas are required, especially on implementing security measures fulfilling ICAO SARPs.
The consequences of an accident or security breach are severe, like business loss and loss of company image, investigation cost, legal fees, compensation, increased insurance premium, loss of productivity, etc. The cost of removing the fuel spills to major ones like aircraft removal due to runway excursion and many more impacts.
The objectives of this chapter are i) to briefly describe processes /models of aviation safety and security management and ii) to highlight a few safety changes/challenges/concerns foreseen based on analysis of aviation systems during the COVID 19 period and apply the processes/models to these. Then, when the traffic accelerates to growth and gets back to the normal situation, the principles of the safety and security management systems should be applied, evaluated using the models and based on which corrective actions are required to maintain performance level.