Maintaining an Acceptable Level of Safety Performance at the Airport: Case Study of Split Airport

This research investigates the process of determining and maintaining the Acceptable Level of Safety Performance (ALoSP) at an airport, utilizing a case study conducted at Split Airport. The study illustrates how the ALoSP framework, originally developed for State-level application under ICAO Annex 19, can be systematically adapted and implemented at the organizational level within the Safety Management System (SMS) of an aviation service provider. The aim of the study is to systematically demonstrate the process by which an airport defines, monitors, and maintains its ALoSP through the application of Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs), Safety Performance Targets (SPTs), and alert thresholds within the framework of Safety Performance Management (SPM). Main results show that Split Airport consistently maintained its safety performance at an acceptable level throughout a ten-year monitoring period (2015–2024), with a small number of deviations observed in certain safety performance indicators. The findings highlight the airport’s robust safety culture, strong data-driven monitoring, and proactive use of both leading and lagging SPIs to anticipate and prevent safety issues. The study confirms that the ALoSP framework can successfully support continuous safety improvement and regulatory compliance at the organizational level, offering a practical example for other aviation service providers.