News

• Safety Management System verifies the veracity of reports received on issues such as unsafe driving and abandoned or unattended equipment.

September, 2023. The Operational Safety and Operations teams of AERIS are constantly dedicated to supervise, monitor and resolve potential risks at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), but did you know that you can collaborate in guaranteeing the continuity of the normal operation of the country’s main air terminal?

“To enhance the participation of citizens in ensuring PURA VIDA experiences, if a person identifies any potential problem for the air side of AIJS, such as runway, apron, taxiways, among others, you can notify the Operational Safety Management System (SMS) team through the communication channels enabled,” said Ricardo Hernandez, executive director of AERIS, manager of AIJS.

The form can be found at sjoairport.com/aeris/contact us/, openly or anonymously; it should include as many precise details as possible, such as time, place, persons involved, aircraft or equipment registration number. If more information is needed, the managers will request it at the time of the investigation.

These reports are treated with confidentiality by the SMS team, with the purpose of identifying and applying corrective, preventive and mitigating measures. Once received, they follow a staged and thorough process to verify the accuracy of the information submitted.

For example, cameras and frequency recordings are used to validate the accuracy of the reports. Then, if required, a site visit or extraordinary inspection is conducted to mitigate the identified hazard.

Cause of reports. The main issues driving the reports are identified as risky driving, poor communication, and abandoned/unattended/mis-parked equipment.

“It is critical to address these reports if true, as they have a direct impact on the passenger experience. For example, risky driving can cause dangerous situations in transit areas, increasing the risk to users; or poor communication, which can cause confusion and delays, affecting flight punctuality and inconveniencing passengers,” explained Virginia Valverde, AERIS Security and Crisis Management Supervisor.

Meanwhile, abandoned or improperly parked equipment can obstruct critical areas and cause service delays.

The work of the SMS. The tasks of this department involve ensuring the effective and risk-free running of processes that, even in some cases, may go unnoticed by the average passenger, but which are fundamental.

For example, on boarding a flight, in addition to checking identity documents and possible prohibited items, there is a seat assignment to balance the load on the aircraft and consideration of passengers with special needs, while coordinating with the cabin crew and on the tarmac to ensure an orderly and safe flow of passengers.

“While passengers simply hand over their baggage, there is rigorous planning behind how it is stored in the cargo hold to ensure that the weight and distribution does not compromise the stability of the aircraft, that hazardous or prohibited items are not carried, etc. It involves the design of safe loading procedures, training of ground personnel and security measures to prevent incidents,” added Valverde.

Actions also include on-site inspections and supervisions to assess the risk exposure of companies operating on the airside; in particular for those related to ground handling, a risk index is created.

In line with its commitment to continuous improvement, the SMS team provides specialized safety training to both internal AERIS staff and members of the airport community at large.

In addition, various coordinating committees between the various entities that provide services at AIJS (such as the Safety and Facilitation Committee and the Operational Safety Committee) and internal AERIS committees (such as the Safety Action Group) meet in order to provide quality service to users.

About AERIS Costa Rica

AERIS HOLDING COSTA RICA is a company of the CCR Group, which operates under the management model interested in the Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS), being in charge of its operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, construction, financing and promotion.

The company seeks to exceed the expectations of its stakeholder management contract in a transversal manner to sustainability, generating social, environmental and economic value. AERIS is committed to providing a “Pura Vida” travel experience for passengers transiting through the main gateway to the country and to generate positive impact to Costa Rica and its stakeholders.

AERIS draws on the experience of its parent companies: HAS Development Corporation and Grupo CCR of Brazil, the latter as the main shareholder and with stakes in the international airports of Quito Ecuador, Curacao and Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

It currently connects Costa Rica with 36 destinations around the world, through 25 international commercial airlines and two domestic airlines that operate in its facilities.