Definition
Best management practices (BMPs) are recommended methods, procedures, or techniques used at airports and aviation facilities to manage operations in ways that protect the environment, improve safety, or maintain efficiency. They are guidance practices, not regulations — adopted because experience has shown them to produce better outcomes than alternatives.
Plain English
BMP stands for best management practices. These are the methods that have been shown to work best when running an airport or aviation operation, especially for things like handling fuel spills, controlling runoff, managing wildlife, or reducing noise. They are recommended ways of doing things, not legal requirements.
Context Anchor
You may see BMP in airport planning documents, environmental notes, construction information, or FAA abbreviation lists.
Derivation
The phrase comes from regulatory and management use. “Best” does not mean perfect; it means the accepted or recommended practice for handling a known problem or activity.
Why Pilots Care
Following them keeps operations legal, reduces wildlife attractants, and avoids fines or shutdowns from environmental violations.
Intuition Check
Do not read “best” as “the one perfect method.” In this context, BMP means an accepted practice chosen to reduce problems and meet standards.
Example Sentence 1
The airport's stormwater plan follows EPA best management practices for handling fuel and deicing runoff.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots are briefed on BMPs for deicing fluid disposal to protect nearby waterways.