The present study was motivated by the increased security risks affecting the aviation industry in the US. The study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of implementing security management systems in the American society’s airports relative to the prevention of aviation security threats. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research methods to fulfill this objective.

The sample of the study was constituted of security personnel from airports that have embraced the use of safety management systems. The security authorities were drawn from four airports. Data was collected through archival records, which was used to gather secondary information, and interviews (primary data). Several data analysis approaches were employed. These included a statistical package for social sciences, Excel and regression analysis.

The majority of the respondents had the requisite knowledge on aviation security and the prevention of related accidents and incidents. It was also established that most of the interviewees feel that there has been a change in the degree of security within the aviation sector and on the level of accidents, which result due to terror attacks. It was also found out that there is a need for additional measures and mechanisms that facilitate SeMS efficiency. Most of the respondents also revealed that it would be ideal if the standards of SeMS were improved to ensure adequacy in the prevention of security attacks in the industry under focus.

Based on these findings, the research concludes that there have been huge improvements as far as efficiency in aviation safety is concerned. While this is the case, a series of challenges have been experienced. As an implication, the study discussed that these difficulties ought to be perceived as inputs of security improvement initiatives and that the implementation of these plans should involve the collaborative effort between the government and the airlines. The airlines, however, have to institute improved management control processes.