Safety Policy
We prioritize a robust Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure the well-being of our learning community. Our policy focuses on fostering a proactive safety culture, systematic risk management, continuous safety performance evaluation, and ongoing safety education and improvement.
Our Commitment to Safety
We are committed to maintaining a robust Safety Management System (SMS) that ensures the well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and the public.
Our commitment to safety:
Safety Goal: Zero accidents or incidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries.
- Safety Culture: Foster a proactive safety culture where safety is a core value. Every community member is encouraged to report safety concerns without fear of reprisal.
- Risk Management: Systematically identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with our aviation activities, aiming to minimize hazards and manage risks to an acceptable level.
- Safety Assurance: Continuously monitor and evaluate our safety performance. This includes regular audits, inspections, and reviews to identify areas for improvement.
- Safety Promotion: Promote safety awareness and education. This includes ongoing training, safety briefings, and information dissemination to all community members.
- Emergency Response Planning: Maintain and regularly exercise an emergency response plan to ensure a smooth transition from normal to emergency operations.
- Continuous Improvement: Commit to constant improvement. We will regularly review and update our safety policies and procedures to reflect best practices and address emerging safety challenges.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Leadership: Our leadership team is committed to providing the necessary resources and support to implement and maintain our SMS and set the tone for safety and meeting safety objectives.
- Staff and Faculty: Staff and Faculty are expected to lead by example, integrate safety into daily activities, and foster a safe learning environment.
- Students: Students are expected to take an active role in their own and others' safety by promptly adhering to safety policies and procedures and reporting any safety concerns.
Download the AU School of Aviation SMS Policy Letter.
Safety Reporting at Auburn
To enhance our safety culture, a safety reporting system is available to all students, instructors, Auburn University Regional Airport employees and visitors. This online form allows you to report anything you witness or experience that may be inconsistent with FAA and Auburn safety standards, whether it be related to flight, during ground operations or on the airport ramp. While you can choose to remain anonymous on the form, it is helpful to have your contact information in case more information is needed to pursue a satisfactory resolution to the problem you identify. The more information provided about the issue, the better we can work to address it. This information will be used to help us improve the safety of our operations on the ground, in the traffic pattern and around the local flying area.
Auburn University will not seek punitive action for submitting data through this form. Only the Director of Safety has access to these records and will use the information you submit to seek a resolution to the issue. If you have any questions or other concerns, please contact the Director of Safety at aviationsafety@auburn.edu.
NASA Reports
If you feel an issue needs to be reported to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), then you can submit an electronic NASA Safety Report on the ASRS website. The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) is operated by NASA and “captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community.”