Who is responsible for ensuring the safety of an airport's operational environment?

The responsibility for ensuring the safety of an airport's operational environment primarily lies with Airport Operations Management. This role encompasses a broad range of activities designed to maintain a safe and efficient airport environment, including overseeing the implementation of safety protocols, coordinating with various airport departments, and ensuring compliance with regulations set by aviation authorities.

Airport Operations Management is tasked with monitoring daily operations and responding to any safety concerns that may arise. They work closely with other entities, such as air traffic control and ground crew, to identify potential hazards and facilitate effective communication across all aspects of airport operations.

While air traffic controllers play a crucial role in managing the safety of aircraft movements in the airspace and on the runways, and ground crew also focuses on operational safety concerning aircraft handling, the overall accountability for the airport's safety environment falls under the purview of Airport Operations Management. Flight dispatchers, on the other hand, are primarily responsible for pre-flight operational planning and monitoring, which does not encompass the entire airport operational safety environment.