ICAO Annex 19, Third Edition (2025)
Safety Management
Standard Introduction
ICAO Annex 19, Third Edition brings together international Standards and Recommended Practices for State Safety Programmes, safety oversight and Safety Management Systems supporting the safe operation of aircraft. The November 2025 edition incorporates Amendments 1 and 2.
Amendment 2 becomes applicable on 26 November 2026. It enhances SSP and SMS provisions, expands SMS scope for specified international RPAS, supporting maintenance organizations and certified heliports, and adds a stronger safety-intelligence focus. National implementation remains controlling for organizations.
State and Service-Provider Systems
Annex 19 brings together State Safety Programme, safety oversight and Safety Management System provisions for aviation activities related to the safe operation of aircraft.
Expanded SMS Scope
Amendment 2 extends SMS provisions to certified RPAS operators authorized for international operations, approved maintenance organizations serving them, and operators of certified heliports.
Safety Intelligence
The amendment strengthens the collection, processing, analysis, exchange and protection of safety information so data can support risk-based aviation decisions.
list_alt 2026 Readiness Decisions
- Confirm the State's implementation, filed differences and national applicability
- Identify whether the organization or activity is within the expanded SMS scope
- Map current SSP or SMS arrangements to Amendment 2
- Assign accountability for safety risk management and assurance
- Inventory safety data sources, access, quality and protection controls
- Define how analysis becomes safety intelligence and action
- Update interfaces with authorities, operators, maintenance organizations and heliports
- Prepare objective implementation evidence before 26 November 2026
Who Needs to Comply?
Civil aviation authorities and affected aviation service providers should assess the third edition. Amendment 2 is especially relevant to States, certified RPAS operators authorized for international operations, approved maintenance organizations that serve those operators, and operators of certified heliports. Other operators and providers already subject to national SMS rules should confirm consequential changes with their authority.
Key Requirements
Verify the Controlling State Rules
Treat Annex 19 as the international baseline and confirm the civil aviation authority's implementing rules, applicability decisions, transition instructions and published differences before setting the compliance scope.
Align SSP and SMS Arrangements
States should review their State Safety Programme and oversight framework; affected service providers should map their Safety Management System, accountabilities, risk controls and assurance activities to the implemented Amendment 2 provisions.
Assess the Expanded Scope
Determine whether international RPAS operations, maintenance organizations serving those operators, or certified heliport operations now bring an entity or activity into SMS scope under the State's implementation.
Develop Safety Intelligence
Establish governed processes to collect, process and analyse safety data and information, turn findings into decision-ready intelligence, and support appropriate sharing, exchange and protection.
Retain Implementation Evidence
Maintain the approved scope, gap assessment, accountable roles, risk and assurance records, data-governance decisions, training evidence, corrective actions and authority communications needed to demonstrate readiness.
Implementation Roadmap
Confirm legal and operational scope
Obtain the relevant civil aviation authority's implementation material, identify filed differences, and document which State, certificates, approvals, locations and activities govern the assessment.
Map Amendment 2
Compare current SSP, oversight or SMS arrangements with the implemented Amendment 2 provisions. Include the expanded RPAS, maintenance and heliport scope where applicable and record each owner and evidence source.
Strengthen safety-data governance
Inventory safety data and information, then define collection, quality, access, analysis, protection, sharing and exchange controls that support reliable safety intelligence.
Exercise decisions and interfaces
Test reporting, escalation, risk assessment, assurance and coordination across the authority and relevant operators, maintenance organizations, heliports or other service providers.
Close gaps and preserve evidence
Resolve findings, brief accountable executives, train affected personnel and retain the approved scope, decisions, records and authority communications before the 26 November 2026 applicability date.
Compliance Checklist
checklist Applicability and authority
checklist Scope and accountability
checklist Safety intelligence
checklist Assurance and evidence
Which safety-management document answers which question?
Use the Annex for the international provisions, ICAO manuals for implementation guidance, and national rules for the enforceable obligation.
| Document | Primary question | Role |
|---|---|---|
| ICAO Annex 19, Third Edition | What safety-management SARPs apply at the international level? | Standards and Recommended Practices |
| Safety Management Manual, Doc 9859 | How can States and service providers implement SSP and SMS? | Implementation guidance |
| Safety Intelligence Manual, Doc 10159 | How should safety data support intelligence and decisions? | Amendment 2 guidance |
| National aviation rules | What is legally enforceable for this operator, approval or location? | Binding State implementation |
Common Misconceptions
ICAO directly certifies every operator against Annex 19.
Contracting States implement and oversee the SARPs. Operators deal with the applicable national authority, certification and approval framework.
The November 2025 effective date was the operator compliance deadline.
ICAO distinguishes effectiveness from applicability. Amendment 2 became effective on 4 November 2025 and becomes applicable on 26 November 2026.
Safety intelligence just means collecting more reports.
The public ICAO material emphasizes collection, processing and analysis that supports decisions, with governance for sharing, exchange and protection.
Penalties & Enforcement
ICAO does not directly fine operators through Annex 19. Contracting States implement ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices through national aviation law, certification, approvals and oversight, and notify ICAO of differences where required. Enforcement consequences therefore depend on the applicable State framework and may affect certificates, approvals or operating privileges.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ICAO Annex 19 Amendment 2 apply?
expand_more
ICAO adopted Amendment 2 on 23 June 2025. It became effective on 4 November 2025 and becomes applicable on 26 November 2026. The third edition, published in November 2025, incorporates Amendments 1 and 2 and supersedes earlier editions on the applicability date.
Does Annex 19 apply directly to an aviation company?
expand_more
ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices are addressed to Contracting States. States implement them through national aviation rules, certification, approvals and oversight, and notify ICAO of differences where required. An organization should therefore verify the rules and timetable issued by its civil aviation authority.
Who is newly highlighted by Amendment 2?
expand_more
ICAO identifies certified RPAS operators authorized to conduct international operations, approved maintenance organizations providing services to those operators, and operators of certified heliports as activities covered by the extension of SMS provisions.
What is safety intelligence in this context?
expand_more
ICAO describes it as using the collection, processing and analysis of safety data and safety information to support aviation decision-making, together with appropriate sharing, exchange and protection. ICAO Doc 10159 provides supporting guidance.
Is the full Annex 19 text free?
expand_more
ICAO sells the third edition through its store. ICAO also states that Annex 19 and supporting manuals are available in read-only form through its eLibrary for eligible access routes. This page summarizes public official material and does not replace the normative text or national rules.
Official Documentation
Official PDF for ICAO Annex 19, Third Edition (2025)
Official publication or summary for ICAO Annex 19, Third Edition (2025)
Official online resource
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidance and reference material
Implementation toolkit
Templates, guidance, or companion resources for ICAO Annex 19, Third Edition (2025)