SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Our Goals for this Aviation Scholarship

SMS-Pro's aviation scholarship was extremely successful in 2016: we received many submissions of very high quality. It's good to know that budding aviation safety professionals already have a solid understanding of what quality aviation risk management looks like. The first dealine this year for the Aviation Safety Management Scholarship is July 1st, which is only one week away! Apply yourself or share with friends who could use some extra cash to help them through their aviation education.

Good Aviation SMS Auditors are Important

Aviation SMS auditors are usually not welcomed with open arms. They tend to be sources of high-stress for safety managers and company executives. An auditor wielding a pen and checklist can be quite nerve wracking.

What are Internal SMS Audits in Aviation, and Why Conduct Them

Internal SMS audits are an extremely important action in every aviation SMS program. They’re also a neglected process in most risk management programs. Just ask yourself, when was the last time you performed an internal audit? Let’s also be clear about what we mean when we say “audit”, as this word is thrown around loosely. An internal audit:

What an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) Is

The actions taken within the first 5 minutes of an emergency can largely dictate the severity of consequences. In this case, “severity of consequences” can involve catastrophic financial, environmental, or material damage, and/or major loss of life. Employees need a plan of action to count on when emergencies strike in order to minimize damages.

What is Data Mining in SMS Programs?

Data mining is a critical risk management action safety managers need to take in their aviation SMS program to organize, understand, and process data. Data mining techniques can be performed with a modest aviation safety database and simple tools, or with complex software and professional aviation safety databases.

What is Risk in SMS Programs

Risk in aviation SMS programs is a tricky subject. Not only is it treated differently in different organizations, but safety professionals tend to get up in arms in front of differing opinions. The truth is that “risk” is a terribly nebulous word and concept, with multiple ways to use it. What’s important is NOT that you “know what risk is” so much as you “define what risk means to your organization.”

What are Keywords in Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Keywords in Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) are the most important words that people new or experienced in SMS need to know. SMS keywords are not just for safety personnel, but rather for all people who interact with a risk management program.

What is Operational Risk for Airline SMS Programs

Operation risk is the primary concern of airline SMS programs. Safety programs in such aviation service providers will revolve around identifying and controlling these safety elements.

We can breakdown operational risk for airlines and similar service providers to the following categories:

How Much Risk Are You Taking On?

How much risk are you will you willing to accept? This is one of the most critical questions that every aviation service provider needs to answer. The answer will inform every single risk management activity in the aviation SMS program.