Smart Airport Certification & Operations Software

SACOS is a digital solution developed under the leadership of Airports Council International Africa to support African airports in achieving and maintaining aerodrome certification while strengthening day-to-day operational oversight.

Designed specifically for the African airport context, SACOS enables a paperless, data-driven, and integrated approach to airport certification, inspections, safety oversight, and operational management, fully aligned with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, including Annex 14.

Why SACOS?

Many African airports manage certification and compliance through fragmented, manual, or paper-based processes. SACOS addresses this challenge by providing a single, structured digital platform that supports both regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

Through SACOS, ACI Africa helps airports to:

• Streamline aerodrome certification and audit preparation
• Improve traceability of findings, non-conformities, and corrective actions
• Strengthen safety oversight and operational control
• Move toward paperless processes and improved data governance

What SACOS Delivers

SACOS functions as a one-stop digital platform covering the full certification and operational lifecycle, including:

Certification & Compliance Management

Centralised tracking of certification requirements, audit findings, observations, and corrective actions, supporting continuous compliance and readiness for regulatory inspections.

Inspections & Operational Oversight

Digital inspections covering airside operations, runways, taxiways, aprons, works in progress, GRF inspections, ARFF, dangerous goods, and airside office inspections, with automated reporting and visual evidence capture.

Aerodrome Data & Infrastructure Management

Structured management of aerodrome data and assets, including runways, taxiways, aprons, lighting, markings, and signage, all geo-referenced and accessible through interactive maps.

Reporting & Decision Support

Automated generation of operational, investigation, occurrence, and mandatory reports, supported by interactive dashboards that provide leadership with real-time visibility of safety and operational performance.

Document & Information Management

Centralised access to regulatory and technical documentation, including ICAO Annexes, manuals, procedures, and national regulations, with version control and full traceability.

Built for Airport Operations

SACOS is designed for real-world airport environments and offers:

• Online and offline functionality for airside operations
• Web-based access via desktop, tablet, or mobile devices
• Geo-referenced mapping and satellite imagery
• Secure role-based access and user management
• A single consolidated database for audits, inspections, and certification

SACOS within ACI Africa Programmes

SACOS is a core digital pillar of ACI Africa's Airport Certification Assistance and broader technical support programmes. When combined with expert missions, training, and simulation-based preparedness, SACOS enables airports to transition from manual compliance to sustainable, digitally enabled certification management.

Supporting African Airports, Practically

Through SACOS, ACI Africa reinforces its commitment to providing practical, non-commercial, airport-led solutions that strengthen safety, certification readiness, and operational excellence across African airports.