Safety Management System Manual 2-1

Chapter 2

Acronyms and Definitions

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE No.

Chapter 2 Acronyms and Definitions ......................................................................................................... 2-1

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2-3

2.1. Acronyms ................................................................................................................... 2-3

2.2. Definitions .................................................................................................................. 2-9
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Chapter 2

Acronyms and Definitions

2.0 Introduction – This chapter contains the acronyms and definitions applicable to this manual.

2.1 Acronyms:

 A 

AAI Office of Accident Investigation

AAS Advanced Automation System (the end systems for all FAA air traffic control, located at the ARTCCs)

AAC Aeronautical Administration Communication (a class of communication which supports administrative communication)

AATT Advanced Aviation Transportation Technology

AC Advisory Circular

ACFT Aircraft

ACARS Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System

ACAS Airborne Collision and Avoidance System

ACI Airports Council International

ACM Airport Certification Manual

ACO Aircraft Certification Office

AD Airport Design or Administrative Directive

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act

ADG Airplane design group

ADO Airport District Office (FAA)

ADNU Airfield Driver’s News Update Program

AFS Flight Standards Service

AIDS Accident/Incident Reporting Data System

AMA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center - FAA Academy

AMO Approved maintenance organization

APU Auxiliary Power Unit

AMS Acquisition Management System

AOA Aircraft Operational Area

AOC Air operator certificate

AOS Airport Operations Supervisors

AOV Air Traffic Safety Oversight Service

ARP Airports Office

ASAP Aviation Safety Action Program

ASRP Aviation Safety Reporting Program

ASRS Aviation Safety Reporting System

ASY Office of System Safety

ATA Air transport Association

ATC Air Traffic Control

ATM Air Traffic Management

ATO Air Traffic Organization
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ATOS Air Transportation Oversight System

AVR Office of Regulation and Certification

 B 

BOD Board of Directors

 C 

C-ARTS Common Automated Radar Terminal System

CAT I Facility providing operation down to 200 feet decision height and runway visual range not less than 2600 feet.

CAT II Facility providing operation down to 100 feet decision height and runway visual range not less than 1200 feet.

CAA Civil Aviation Authority

CAP Corrective Action Plan

CASS Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System

CBI Computer-based Instruction

CBT Computer Based Training

CDA Constant descent arrivals

CDR Critical Design Review

CFIT Controlled flight into terrain

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CNS Communications, Navigation, Surveillance

CONOP Concept of Operations

COO Chief Operating Officer

COSA City of San Antonio

CRM Crew resource management

CSA Comparative Safety Assessment

CVR Cockpit Voice recorder

 D 

DCP Document Change Proposal

DEP Departure

DES Descent

DEST Destination

DME Distance Measuring Equipment

DOT Department of Transportation

DP Departure Procedures

DR&A Data Reduction and Analysis

 E 

IEP Internal Evaluation Program

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ETBA Energy Trace-Barrier Analysis

ERAM Enroute Automation Modernization

ERM Emergency Response Manual

ERP Emergency Response Plan

ETMS Enhanced Traffic Management System

 F 

FAA Federal Aviation Administration
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FAR Federal Aviation Regulations (federal rules under which flight operations are conducted)

FAST FAA Acquisition System Toolset

FDM Flight Data Monitoring

FDR Flight Data Recorder

FHA Functional Hazard Analysis

FMS Flight Management System

FMEA Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

FREQ Frequency

FMECA Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis

FMS Flight Management System

FOD Foreign Object Damage

FRDF Facility Reference Data File

FSDO Flight Standards District Office

FTA Fault Tree Analysis

FT Feet

 G 

GA General Aviation

GAIN Global Aviation Information Network

GAO General Accounting Office

GPS Global Positioning System

 H 

HAZMAT Hazardous Materials (Dangerous Goods)

HAZOP Hazard and Operability Tool

HF High Frequency

HMI Human Machine Interface

HTTR Hazard Tracking and Risk Resolution

HTS Hazard Tracking System

HZ Hazard

 I 

IAPA Instrument Approach Procedures Automation

IAW In accordance with

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

IEP Internal Evaluation Program

IFR Instrument Flight Rules

ILS Instrument Landing System

INFO Information

IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions

ISSP Integrated Safety System Program

 J 

JHA Job Hazard Analysis

 K 

KG Kilogram

KHz Kilohertz
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Km Kilometer

KT Knot

KTS Knots

kW Kilowatt

 L 

LAHSO Land and Hold Short Operations

LDR Labor Distribution Reporting

LE Lead Evaluator

LOB Line of Business

LOFT Line-Oriented Flight Training

 M 

MDA Minimum Descent Altitude

MEL Minimum Equipment List

MES Multi-Linear Event Sequencing Tool

MLS Microwave Landing System

MMS Maintenance Management System

MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet

MOA Memorandum of Agreement

MORT Management Oversight and Risk Tree

MRM Maintenance Resource Management

MVR Texas Motor Vehicle Report

 N 

N/A Not Applicable

NAIMS National Airspace Incident Monitoring System

NAS National Airspace System

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASDAC National Aviation Safety Data Analysis Center

NASIP National Aviation Safety Inspection Program

NASTEP NAS Technical Evaluation Program

NAV Navigation

NCP NAS Change Proposal

NDB Nondirectional Radio Beacon

NexGen Next Generation (e-mail) Messaging System

NFPO National Flight Procedures Office

NIMS NAS Infrastructure Management System

NM Nautical Mile

NMACS Near Midair Collision System

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOTAMS Notice to Airmen

NTSB National Transportation Safety Board

 O 

OA Operations Analysis
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OEDS Operational Error/Deviation System

OIG Office of the Inspector General

OJT On-the-Job Training

OP Operational

ORM Operational Risk Management

OSA Operational Safety Assessment

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

 P 

PANS Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Air Traffic Management

PC Personal computer

PDR Preliminary Design Review

PDS Pilot Deviation System

PE Physical Examination

PEAR Process Evaluation and Action Request

PHA Preliminary Hazard Analysis

PIT Powered Industrial Truck

POS Position

POSC Post-Implementation Safety Case

POV Personnel Operator Vehicle

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

 Q 

QA Quality Assurance

QC Quality Control

QMS Quality Management System

OPS SPEC Operations Specifications

 R 

RIS Regulatory Information System

RH Revision History

RNP-RNAV Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation

RTCA Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics

RVSM Reduced Vertical Separation Minima

 S 

SAAS San Antonio Airport System

SAT San Antonio Airport three letter identifier

SD Safety Division

SEM System Engineering Manual

SFR Safety Feedback Report form

SID Standard Instrument Departure

SIDA Security Identification Display Area

SMO Systems Management Office

SMS Safety Management System

SMSM Safety Management System Manual

SMSMG Safety Management System Manager
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SMSRC Safety Management System Review Committee

SOIA Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach

SOP Standard Operating Procedures

SRM Safety Risk Management

SRMD Safety Risk Management Document

SSAR System Safety Assessment Report

SSE Senior Safety Engineer

SSF Stinson Municipal Airport three letter identifier

SSH System Safety Handbook

SSHA Sub-system Hazard Analysis

SSMP System Safety Management Program

STARS Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System

STEP Sequential Time Event Plot

 T 

T&E Test and Evaluation

TEMP Temperature

TAA Terminal Arrival Area

TRACON Terminal Radar Approach Control

TRM Team Resource Management

TTT Trap Transport Transplant Permit Program

TWA Time Weighted Average

 U 

UCR Unsatisfactory Condition Report

UHF Ultra-high Frequency

 V 

VFR Visual Flight Rules

VHF Very High Frequency

VMC Visual Meteorological Conditions

VOR VHF Omni-directional Range

VP Vice President

VSR Voluntary Safety Report

 W 

WBI Web-based Instruction

WT Weight

WX Weather

 X 

X-BAND The frequency range between 8000 and 12500 MHz

XCVR Transceiver

 Y 

 Z 

Z Zulu (GMT Time)

ZFW Zero Fuel Weight
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2.2 Definitions:

 A 

“All Clear” – Upon notice of “All Clear”, Staff, Tenants, and escorted passengers will be permitted to reenter the concourse

from the ramp and gate area with additional screening.

Accountable Executive – The Accountable Executive assumes full responsibility and accountability for the San Antonio

Airport System’s SMS. The Accountable Executive can delegate the day-to-day functional responsibility to the Responsible

Executive but is still the Accountable Executive for the San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport. The

Aviation Director is the Accountable Executive for the San Antonio Airport System.

Aircraft Accident (NTSB 830) – Aircraft accident means an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which

takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight, and all such persons have

disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.

Aircraft Damage – Engine failure or damage limited to an engine if only one engine fails or is damaged, bent fairings or

cowling, dented skin, small punctured holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades, and damage to

landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wing tips are not considered substantial damage but is

considered aircraft damage.

Aircraft Incident (NTSB 830) – An occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which

affects or could affect the safety of operations.

Airlines – Commercial air carriers who operate aircraft and fly passengers to and from Terminal A and/or B at SAT.

Specifically, employees of those airlines who work regularly in Terminal A and/or B.

Assembly Point – A specific location outside of the Terminals identified for the purpose of providing a gathering place for

evacuees.

Assembly Point Officers – Staff and Tenants designated to act as coordinators for Assembly Points during evacuations.

Audit – A methodical, planned review that compares actual practices to written policies or standards, and determines actual

practices through interviews, observations, and review of documents and records.

Auditor – An individual who has satisfied defined experience prerequisites and is successfully qualified under a defined

training program to conduct audits.

Audit Evidence – Records, statements of fact, or other information that are relevant to the evaluation criteria and are

verifiable.

Authority – A person or group with the power to command, determine, influence, or judge.

 B 

Business Partners: Concession and/or retail operations conducting business in Terminal A and/or B at SAT. Specifically,

employees who work regularly in Terminal A and/or B.

 C 

Comprehensive Fix – An action taken to resolve an unwanted situation and precludes the recurrence of a finding disclosed to

the FAA.

Concern – An evaluation finding that indicates a system weakness or deficiency that is not contrary to the federal aviation

regulations or SAAS Policies and does not pose an immediate safety threat.

Continual – A close prolonged succession or recurrence, infinite in time, without interruption.

Control – Checks and restraints designed into a process to ensure a desired result.

Correction – Repair, rework, or adjust to an existing nonconformity. Corrections are considered a short term fix to allow the

system to continue working on a temporary basis.
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Corrective Action – Relates to the elimination of the cause of nonconformity, or is a response to a PEAR or AFCAN. Long

term fixes or corrective actions identify the root cause of the problem and make changes to ensure that the problem does not

reoccur.

Corrective Action Plan (CAP) – The total plan of a certificate holder to close all findings through implementation of

comprehensive corrective action. This plan should include the changes in policy and /or procedures that will ensure continued

compliance.

Cost – Activities, both direct and indirect, involving any negative impact, including money, time, labor, disruption, goodwill, as

well as political and intangible losses

Crewmember – A person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time.

 D 

Deidentified – A safety report that has had all information removed from it that may identify the submitter of the report.

 E 

Evacuation A Alarms: In response to a single sensor device, the alarm sounds and Tenants and Staff in the effected terminal

will direct evacuees to move out of the terminal and to the nearest Assembly Point (Evacuation A applies to one specific

terminal A or B).

Evacuation B Alarm(s): Should a sensor device activate that causes the alarm to sound in both terminals, Tenants and Staff

will direct evacuees to move out of the terminals and to the nearest Assembly Point (Evacuation B applies to the evacuation of

both Terminals A and B simultaneously).

Evaluation – A functionally independent review of company policies, procedures, and systems. If accomplished by the

company itself, the evaluation should be done by an element of the company other than the one performing the function being

evaluated. The evaluation process builds on the concepts of audit and inspection. An evaluation is an anticipatory process,

and is designed t identify and correct potential findings before they occur. An evaluation is synonymous with the term systems

audit.

Evaluation Standard – Specific criteria on which basis a functional area will be evaluated in terms of compliance or

conformance.

Evacuees – all people (Staff, Tenants, and Passengers) within the Terminal(s) at the time of evacuation

Evidence – these data are necessary to substantiate findings or concerns and to enable management or evaluators to

determine the root causes of any reported findings.

 F 

FATAL Injury (NTSB 830) – Fatal injury means any injury which results in death within 30 days of the accident.

Finding – A condition supported by objective evidence that demonstrates an instance of noncompliance with a specific law,

regulation, written policy, or procedure.

Fire Monitors – Staff and Tenant members assigned specific duties in the event of a fire alarm/terminal evacuation

Follow-up Evaluation – Verifies corrective action plans were implemented and effective. Utilizes the same techniques as a

planned evaluation but focuses on areas of non-compliance.

 G 

Ground Operations Accident (GOA) – A mishap involving an aircraft that occurs prior to the arrival of an aircrew member at

the aircraft (crewmembers starts preflight or enters aircraft with the intention of flight) and after the engine shutdown (spool

down) that results in reportable damage, injury, or fatality; also includes a mishap that results in damage to any other type of

Company property other than an aircraft.

 H 
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Hazard – Any existing or potential condition that can lead to injury, illness, or death to person; damage to or loss of a system,

equipment, or property; or damage to the environment.

 I 

Injury – Anything other than a serious injury.

Incident – An individual occurrence or event; a distinct piece of action, or an episode, or something that occurs casually in

connection with something else.

Incident Command: The Communications Center serves as the central point of contact for evacuation event.

 J 

Just Culture – errors and unsafe acts will not be punished if the error was unintentional and people are encouraged to

provide essential safety-related information. However, those who act recklessly or take deliberate and unjustifiable risks will

still be subject to disciplinary action.

 K 

 L 

 M 

Major Finding – The most significant evaluation finding, receiving the highest management attention. A finding will be

classified as major if it is an apparent violation of a legal requirement, if critical systems lack controls or have other

weaknesses, or if it is a serious safety issue.

Minor Finding – Not as serious as a Major Finding and does not indicate an immediate safety concern. A finding will be

classified as minor for apparent non-compliance with policy or self-imposed limitations.

Monitor – To check, supervise, critically observe, or record the progress of an activity or system on a regular basis in order to

identify change.

 N 

 O 

Objective Evidence – A documented statement of fact that may be quantitative or qualitative and is supported by documents,

observations, or testimony. Evidence will be in the form of written documentation or reports that support an Internal

Evaluation Program analysis and review.

Observation – An evaluation finding that may be positive or negative and does not require a corrective action or response.

On-scene Commander: SAAS fire department senior staff member who takes control of the scene at the scene.

Op Spec – Operations Specifications provide an effective method of establishing safety standards that address a wide range

of variables. They can be adapted to a specific certificate holder or operator’s class, size of aircraft, type, and kinds of

operation.

 P 

Passengers – The traveling public
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Preventive Action – Action to eliminate or mitigate the cause or reduce the effects of a potential nonconformity or other

undesirable situation.

Policy – A high – level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable practices of a group. Policies state how

goals will be achieved.

Probability – The likelihood of a specific outcome.

Procedures – A method for accomplishing a process, or for performing an activity.

Process – a set of interrelated resources and activities that transform inputs to outputs. Resources may include personnel,

techniques, and methods.

Public – The combined group of passengers and non-passengers (meeters and greeters)

 Q 

Quality Assurance – The activity through independent evaluation of established processes, procedures, and documentation.

Quality Control – The determination of the quality of a product by inspection and testing to determine compliance with

standards.

 R 

Responsible Executive – The Responsible Executive is directly responsible to the Accountable Executive for the day-to-day

activities of the SMS. The Airport Operations Assistant Aviation Director is the Responsible Executive for the San Antonio

Airport System.

Responsibility – The quality, state, or fact of being accountable.

Risk – An expression of the probability and impact of an undesired event in terms of event severity and event probability.

Risk Assessment – is an assessment of the system or component to compare the achieved risk level with the tolerable /

acceptable level of risk.

Risk Control – Refers to steps taken to eliminate hazards or to mitigate their effects by reducing severity and/or likelihood of

risk associated with those hazards.

Risk Management – Is a formal process that involves describing the system, identifying the hazards, assessing the risk,

analyzing the risk, and controlling the risk. The SRM process is embedded in the operational system and is not a separate /

distinct process.

Root Cause – Determination of what caused a finding. The identification of the root cause is the key to the implementation of

an effective corrective action.

 S 

Safety Attribute Inspection – A surveillance tool planned for at the subsystem level and conducted at the ‘element’ level by a

team of inspectors to determine if an air carrier has the safety attributes of Responsibility, Authority, Procedures, Controls,

Process measurement and interfaces adequately designed into their system element process.

Safety Assessment – Is a systematic, comprehensive evaluation of an implemented system.

Safety Assurance – SMS process management function that systematically provides confidence that organizational

products/services meet or exceed safety requirements.

Safety Culture – The product of individual and group values, attitudes, competencies, and patterns of behavior that determine

the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, the organization’s management of safety.

Safety Event – This term is used to describe either an incident (close call, near miss, etc.) or an accident (some unintended

physical contact resulting in some form of loss). This is a generic term that collectively describes any and all mishaps at the

airport.

Safety Management Systems – The formal, top-down business-like approach to managing safety risk. It includes systematic

procedures, practices, and policies for the management of safety, which includes safety risk management, safety policy,

safety assurance, and safety promotion.
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Safety Manager – The person in charge of the day-to-day operations of the San Antonio International Airport and Stinson

Municipal Airport SMS Plan.

Safety Policy – SMS process management function which is a document that outlines the methods and processes that the

organization will use to achieve desired safety out-come.

Safety Promotion – SMS process management function that is a combination of safety culture, training, and data sharing

activities that support the implementation and operation of an SMS in an organization.

Safety Risk – Is the composite of the likelihood (i.e., risk) of the potential effect of a hazard, and predicted severity of that

effect. As an example, the possibility of an overshoot by an aircraft landing on an icy runway would be considered a

safety risk of the hazard.

Safety Risk Control – Anything that mitigates the safety risk of a hazard; Safety risk controls necessary to mitigate an

unacceptable risk should be mandatory, measurable, and monitored for effectiveness.

Safety Risk Management (SRM) – A formal process within the SMS that involves describing the system, identifying the

hazards, assessing the risk, analyzing the risk, and controlling the risk. The SRM process is embedded in the operational

system and is not a separate/distinct process.

Self Audit – Is a critical self-assessment tool that management can use to measure safety margins.

Senior Management – Aviation Director, Assistant Directors, and all division managers.

Serious Injury – An Injury which: Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours within seven days from the data the injury

was received, Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of finger, toes, or nose), causes severe hemorrhages,

nerve, muscle or tendon damage, involves any internal organ, or involves second or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting

more than 5% of the body surface.

Severity – The consequence or impact of a hazard in terms of degree of loss or harm.

SMS Committee - The SMS Committee is the official group of airport stakeholders and airport staff created by the San

Antonio Airport System to make recommendations to the Safety Manager concerning safety policy decisions, annual safety

goals and reviews of safety performance results in support of the SAAS Safety Management System.

Special Evaluation – An unannounced review performed by the internal auditors and targeted at specific areas within

Facilities Maintenance, Airport Operations, or Ground Operations.

Staff – SAAS, SAT, or COSA employees

Stakeholders – Tenants or groups of organizations that have a legitimate interest in the Airport System, who affect, or can be

affected by, the Airport System’s actions. These include the airlines, FAA, tenants, GA operators, TSA, contractors, police,

Customs and Border Protection, flight schools, corporate aviation, and others.

Substantial Damage – (NTSB 830) Engine failure or damage limited to an engine if only one engine fails or is damaged, bent

fairings or cowling, dented skin, small punctured holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades, and

damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wingtips are not considered “substantial damage”.

System – This term is used in the SRA process which is the first step of an SRA, the term used is “Describe the System” –

this is a process that is used to describe operation, equipment, and/or procedures being added or changed to help define the

scope of the Risk Assessment. Whether a change involves new systems (hardware and/ or software) which can be a

paragraph or several paragraphs that describes all the essential elements.

 T 

Top Management – The person or group of people who direct and control an organisation.

Tenants – The combined group of Airlines and Business Partners.

 U 

 V 
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 W 

 X 

 Y 

 Z 
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