scope:

FOREWORD

Historical background

The provisions in this Annex have been developed in response to recommendations provided by the Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference on a Global Strategy for Aviation Safety (Montréal, 20 to 22 March 2006) (DGCA/06) and the High-level Safety Conference (Montréal, 29 March to 1 April 2010) (HLSC/2010) regarding the need for an Annex dedicated to safety management. The Air Navigation Commission (186-8), having determined these issues to be of sufficient scope and importance, agreed to establish the Safety Management Panel (SMP) to provide recommendations for the development of this Annex.

The Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in this Annex are intended to assist States in managing aviation safety risks. Given the increasing complexity of the global air transportation system and its interrelated aviation activities required to assure the safe operation of aircraft, this Annex supports the continued evolution of a proactive strategy to improve safety performance. The foundation of this proactive safety strategy is based on the implementation of a State safety programme (SSP) that systematically addresses safety risks.

Effective SSP implementation is a gradual process, requiring time to mature fully. Factors that affect the time required to establish an SSP include the complexity of the air transportation system as well as the maturity of the aviation safety oversight capabilities of the State.

This Annex consolidates material from existing Annexes regarding SSP and safety management systems (SMSs), as well as related elements including the collection and use of safety data and State safety oversight activities. The benefit of drawing together this material into a single Annex is to focus States' attention on the importance of integrating their safety management activities. It also facilitates the evolution of safety management provisions.

Certain State safety management functions required in Annex 19 may be delegated to a regional safety oversight organization or a regional accident and incident investigation organization on behalf of the State.

This Annex that contains SARPs related to responsibilities and processes underlying the safety management by States was first adopted by the Council on 25 February 2013 pursuant to the provisions of Article 37 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago 1944) and designated as Annex 19 to the Convention. The SARPs were based on provisions for safety management initially adopted by the Council in Annexes 1; 6, Parts I, II and III; 8; 11; 13 and 14, Volume I, and on recommendations of the first special meeting of the SMP (Montréal, 13 to 17 February 2012).

Table A shows the origin of subsequent amendments together with a list of the principal subjects involved and the dates on which the Annex and the amendments were adopted by the Council, when they became effective and when they became applicable.