SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Budget & Experience for Aviation Safety Management Systems

Airlines, airports, and maintenance organizations are still trying to understand the requirements of ICAO's mandated aviation safety management systems (SMS) that are outlined in Document 9859 Safety Management Manual (SMM).

Fully implemented aviation SMS programs require considerable work implementing AND maintaining. If you are like most aviation service providers, your company is trying to implement a multi-year project on a shoestring budget. And I have seen airlines and airports that still have no budget for additional safety initiatives.

You Probably Need a Safety Database, Right?

I'm guessing if your airline or airport has more than 20 employees you will need a database for many of your SMS requirements.

If you don't have the budget for a database, or if you are one of those talented safety managers with excellent IT skills, then you can build your own safety database.

In this article, we demonstrate how you can design your own safety database within an hour or two.

So let's get started.

Aviation Safety Charts Monitor SMS Performance

Aviation safety charts provide aviation safety management teams with an invaluable visual presentation of their aviation safety management system (SMS) performance. Yet it should not be only the safety managers that should be reviewing these safety charts. The accountable executive has much more at stake.

For every SMS implementation, the accountable executive is responsible for

• Ensuring the SMS implementation is performing across the organization;
• Regularly reviewing organizational safety performance; and

Safety Reporting Process Will Make or Break an Aviation SMS

You could also say that lack of hazard and safety reporting in an aviation safety management system (SMS) can break a company.

Hazard reporting is critically important to any aviation service provider if it wants to benefit from their investment in the required and voluntary SMS. It’s equally important that aviation safety professionals have an open dialogue about what the important discussion points are and what problems are endemic to the aviation SMS.

Most Important Questions to Monitor Safety Performance in SMS

Monitoring safety performance in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is undoubtedly one of the most important tasks you will undertake in your SMS. Regulatory requirements turn monitoring the performance of the SMS from a "nice-to-have program" for reducing risk and avoiding accidents to a "must have and must demonstrate proof" to comply with SMS regulatory requirements.

Safety performance monitoring is integral for maintaining Safety Assurance and the integrity of your SMS program.

Aviation SMS Implemented in Top-Down Approach

Every aviation safety management system (SMS) must be implemented in a top-down fashion.

There can be no other way, regardless of how liberal you think your company is.

But what is the top-down approach, and why are safety managers failing at SMS implementations when using this "top-down" SMS implementation strategy?

After witnessing many SMS implementations over the past dozen years, we have some observations regarding what works for safety managers and what may not.

What Are the Safety Management System Databases?

In early 2007, when we started designing and developing SMS Pro, I was mildly surprised that many aviation safety managers called a Web application to manage aviation safety events a "safety management system" (SMS) database.

I'm an IT guy, and when I think of a database, I'm thinking about Oracle, SQL Server, MS Access, etc.

I believe the confusion comes from pilots who are used to dealing with MS Access databases.

Safety Managers Suffer Common Problem Selecting Valuable KPIs

A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) measure how effectively aviation service providers are achieving key business or safety objectives. Civil aviation authorities also use KPIs to evaluate their success at reaching safety targets.

When focusing on safety, there is a tendency of some safety professionals to use the term "safety performance indicator" (SPI) to differentiate pure business metrics with safety metrics. Rest assured, SPIs are subsets of KPIs.

Aviation Safety Performance Begins at the Lowest Level

80% of aviation service providers have troubles getting employees to participate in aviation safety management systems (SMS).

Most safety managers accept this challenge and strive to implement consistent safety promotion activities, such as

• Safety newsletters;
• Safety surveys; and
• Safety meetings.

What Is an Organizational Chart's Purpose in Aviation SMS?

A professional, task-driven safety manager has been assigned to implement an airline or airport's safety program. Under "safety policy" one section of the safety manual requires an Organizational Chart.

Most professionals know an org chart when they see it, but what goes into the org chart for the safety program? What is the easiest way to create this org chart? Why do we have an org chart in the safety management program?