¶ … Airport Safety Self-Inspection, which is an important element of an airport's certification performance requirements. The evaluation is based on a discussion of self-inspection programs and practices in order to promote the overall safety of airports. The discussion also entails evaluation of FAR Part 139 and FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-18C depending on self-inspection program and requirements. The major elements included in the evaluation are responsibilities, basic inspection techniques, different types of inspections, and inspection record requirements. Airport Safety Self-Inspection -- FAR Part 139 and FAA Advisory Circular

One of the most important aspects of an airport's certification performance requirements is the Airport Safety Self-Inspection. Given the significance of this requirement, the Airport Safety Self-Inspection is included in FAR Part 139 and FAA Advisory Circular. The self-inspection requirements are established in order for an airport to ensure compliance with regulations on an everyday basis. These requirements are regarded as the foundation of the overall safety program of airport operators. Some of the most important elements in a detailed self-inspection program include inspecting, training, identification of inconsistencies and documenting findings, follow-up, resolution, and quality control. Despite the inclusion of Airport Safety Self-Inspection in FAR Part 139 and FAA Advisory Circular, there are differences with regards to responsibilities, inspection requirements and techniques, and variances in types of inspections.

Review of the two Documents

FAR Part 139 is one of the documents detailing airport safety self-inspection and permits an airport to promote regulatory compliance across all its operations on an everyday basis. The self-inspection requirements...

The primary focus of a self-inspection is on operational components like safety areas, markings, pavement areas, aircraft rescue and firefighting, navigational guides, construction, lighting, fueling operations, ground vehicle and public protection.
Similarly, the FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-18C provides important information on airport-self inspection programs to airport operators. However, the circular primarily focuses on the creation and establishment of a self-inspection program based on requirements by the Federal Aviation Administration and compliance with regulations that are stipulated in FAR Part 139. As previously mentioned, these documents seek to ensure the overall safety of airport's inspection programs through stipulating some responsibilities, basic inspection methods, inspection record requirements, and the various types of inspections.

Responsibilities

Airport's self-inspection program and requirements are characterized by several responsibilities in order to ensure regulatory compliance. According to these documents, self-inspection programs and practices are the basic responsibility of the airport owner, operator, and a properly authorized representative ("Airport Safety Self-Inspection," 2004). Generally, the responsibility of ensuring overall airport ground safety is easily given to the airport manager or operations supervisor. In some cases, certain inspection segments are given to particular air carriers and fixed-based operations. Nonetheless, FAR Part 139 states that the Federal Aviation Administration may hold the certificate holder eventually responsible for ensuring safe operations of the airport.

Basic…