News & Publications

ACRP Legal Research Digest 36: Legal Issues Related to Implementation and Operation of SMS for Airports

Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program

November 2018

Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell attorneys Peter Kirsch and Nicholas Clabbers co-authored a report on the legal and operational issues encountered by airport sponsors that have implemented Safety Management Systems (SMS) in the United States.  The survey and report found that few airports experienced significant legal issues associated with SMS, but that implementation was often delayed because of FAA’s delayed rulemaking process.