Safety is a top priority for the Houston Airport System. Employees participate in continuous training to ensure that the airports are not only well run but efficient and safe. That hardwork was recently recognized when George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) earned the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 2017 Airport Safety Achievement Award for the Southwest Region.

Out of 59 Part 139 certified airports eligible in the region, Bush Airport was honored after a receiving a perfect score in the annual FAA Part 139 inspection both in 2016 and 2017. The detailed review by the FAA of operations at the airport came back without a discrepancy, meaning in all aspects of operating an airport safely and efficiently, the FAA found that Bush Airport met or exceeded the requirements of Part 139, which is required to earn and maintain the Airport Operating Certificate required for commercial aircraft operations to take place at the airport.

“The core of customer service — the most essential responsibility in that vital goal for the Houston Airport System — is ensuring the safety of everyone who uses or works at our airports,” said HAS Chief Operating Officer Jesus Saenz. “It is more than a point of pride; it is a duty we take seriously. The level of detail and vital nature of the requirements to meet our safety goals demand a commitment to excellence and professionalism by not just airport personnel, but also from myriad partners who work together to make the facilities of the Houston Airport System both safe and successful.”

The FAA Southwest Region, Airport Division established the annual award to recognize airports that have made notable contributions to airport operations and safety. As well as the unblemished reviews, Bush Airport was honored after having no vehicle/pedestrian deviations in 2017, demonstrating its commitment in continual assessment of the required Part 139 training program, specifically the airport’s ground vehicle driving program.

The award noted that Bush Airport also completed a total re-write of the Airport Certification Manual in 2017, which provides a streamlined document used to guide all airport safety-related programs. As well, Bush Airport implemented a Safety Management System program to enhance safety on several vital projects, including several taxiway refurbishments. This process ensures that the safety of aircraft operations during construction are identified and mitigated in the design phase of the project.

“It takes teamwork and dedication to achieve the kind of standards this award embodies, and this honor is a testimony to our relationship with the FAA, our carrier partners, and our employees,” said Bush Airport General Manager Ted Kitchens. “Their daily attention to the operating conditions at the airport is both appreciated and, honestly, expected, because of how vital safety is to what we do at our airports, and because our team and our airport partners are steadfast in their commitment to that level of excellence. It takes a total team effort, each and every day, to safely move more than 40 million people through the airport each year.”