On March 5, CAAC held a video conference on the publicity of the Guidelines on Building Safety Management System (SMS) in Transport Airports (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines), which was the first large meeting held by CAAC using an internet video system, and also the one with the largest coverage and most participants during the period of the epidemic prevention and control. Meeting rooms in airports were all linked up with live network broadcast, so that the meeting content went directly to grass-roots entities. A total of 315 relevant persons in charge from CAAC, CAAC’s regional administrations, safety supervision and management bureaus, airport groups and companies, Civil Aviation Management Institute of China, China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology and engineering consultancy companies attended the interactive video conference using “Welink” of Huawei Cloud in their respective offices, and more than 11,700 frontline employees watched the livestream with over 500 comments. Dong Zhiyi, Deputy Administrator of CAAC, attended the video conference and made a speech.

The cloud video conference was being broadcast.

Dong Zhiyi pointed out the special meaning of this conference being held in a special way during the special period, which avoided gathering and improved efficiency, managing both epidemic prevention and control and work deployment while enabling the grass-root to grasp the essence of the conference. Dong commented it as a bold attempt and exploration, which embodied the innovative spirit of civil aviation personnel.

Dong Zhiyi expressed that the main purpose of the conference was to promote the development of SMS in airports, build long-term safety management mechanism, construct safe airports, and facilitate construction of four-type airports (namely safe, green, smart and human airports) and modern national airport system at a higher level and starting point with a higher goal by implementing thoroughly the spirit of the National Civil Aviation Working Conference and the National Civil Aviation Airport Working Conference, and in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations on Safety Management of Civil Aviation. He pointed out that civil aviation safety was an essential part of the national security strategy. Over the years, the CAAC has resolutely implemented the overall arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on work safety and the specific requirements for civil aviation, and the civil aviation industry has gradually formed a set of concepts and systems on safety management by firmly establishing the idea of safe development across the industry, absorbing the international advanced concept of SMS during development, and taking into consideration the reality and characteristics of civil aviation in China. Since the CAAC carried out the pilot projects of SMS in airports in 2005, all domestic transport airports have basically established SMS. From the perspective of safety performance of airport operation in the past decade, there have been no airport-accountable accidents in China, and the rate of airport-accountable incidents per 10,000 movements has also dropped from 2.3 to 1.9, indicating a stable and positive situation in safe operation.

In order to further promote the construction of SMS in the airports, Dong Zhiyi put forward four requirements: first, it is necessary for all entities to concentrate on building and deployment of SMS and profoundly understand the significance of building SMS in airports to the building of four-type airports, a modern national airport system and acceleration of civil aviation power building; and they should assure building of SMS in the airports with a high sense of responsibility and a strong sense of mission so as to boost China's airport safety management to make new steps and strides. Second, we should focus on scientific planning and improve airport safety management in a systematic way by establishing a way of thinking on overall planning, system and integration, and promote the combination of SMS construction with building of grassroots, works basics and training of basic skills, identification and solving of hidden dangers, and application of new technologies. Third, it is necessary to strengthen organizational leadership and scientifically promote the effective implementation of SMS in airports. All entities should be deeply aware that in terms of promoting the effective implementation of SMS, the primary person in charge is the key, the scientific method the core, and achieving practical results the fundamental purpose. And entities should promote the construction of SMS in a patient, determined, and methodical manner. Fourth, efforts should be made to strengthen supervision and promote the in-depth and practical construction of SMS in airports. All entities should strengthen the top-level design and ensure consistency in orders; reinforce implementation of plans and provide sufficient guidance; step up daily supervision for effective monitoring to jointly advance the construction of SMS.

Dong Zhiyi also expressed sincere condolences and heartfelt thanks to the civil aviation officials and workers, especially those at the airports, who held fast to their posts during the epidemic outbreak. He stressed that domestic prevention and control was currently at a critical stage while the overseas epidemic development was getting worse and more complicated. Against such background all entities in the civil aviation industry, especially airports, should continuously prevent and control the epidemic and assure safety of their working places and guard health of civil aviation personnel and passengers by sticking to the principle of preventing imported infections while controlling domestic epidemic spread, in the meantime intensifying the basis for safe development and striving to win the fight against virus with practical actions.

At the conference, the relevant person in charge from the Department of Airport of CAAC made a comprehensive interpretation and publicity on the Guidelines and a detailed arrangement for further promoting the building of SMS in transport airports. Four airports including the Beijing Capital Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Yantai Laishan Airport and Yichang Sanxia Airport reported on their SMS construction progress. This Guidelines is the third edition since it was first released in 2008. Following the international trend and reflecting Chinese characteristics, this Guidance is easy to operate and implement, which will provide strong guidance for the construction and operation of SMS in airports, and facilitate continuous improvement of airport safety management.