SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Christopher Howell

Manage global operations for aviation safety management systems (SMS) software that facilitates regulatory compliance, such as ICAO, FAA, Transport Canada, IS-BAO. Manage software engineering support efforts to local Alaska businesses. Assist in design, implementation, testing and documentation of complex, three-tier Windows applications relying heavily upon secure Web services technology.
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Recent Posts

How to Write Non-Punitive Reporting Policy for Aviation SMS Programs - Free Templates

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 19, 2025 6:30:00 AM

Purpose of Non-Punitive Reporting Policies in Aviation SMS Programs

Dedicated, hard-working safety managers drive the setup of airline and airports' aviation safety management systems (SMS).

These safety managers are often left to decipher ambiguous requirements that are open to multiple interpretations. This comes into play, especially when upper management wants to "pencil-whip" an aviation SMS and merely check the boxes.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy, 2-Safety Risk Management

What Emergency Response Plans Are (and Why You Need It)

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 12, 2025 6:00:00 AM

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.

An emergency response plan is a manual that companies use to address many different types of emergencies.

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Topics: Quality-Safety Management

Steps to Create an Emergency Response Plan in Aviation SMS [With Free Checklists]

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 5, 2025 6:00:00 AM

What Is an Emergency Response Plan

An emergency response plan is a manual that companies use to address many different types of emergencies.

The manuals include:

  • Who to contact;
  • How to act; and
  • Resources to use.

The priorities for any ERP are, in this order:

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Topics: 1-Safety Policy

What Is a Corrective Action in Aviation SMS?

Posted by Christopher Howell on Feb 26, 2025 6:30:00 AM

What Is a Corrective Action - a Definition

A corrective action is a risk management process, tool or activity used to correct any undesirable element of an aviation service provider's operational system. Most commonly, the term "corrective action" is used loosely to represent "corrective actions and preventative actions," or CPAs. You may also see corrective actions called CAPAs (corrective action preventative action) or RCAs (recommended corrective actions), though CPA is the most recognized acronym globally in the aviation industry.

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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

How to Set Up and Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in Existing SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jan 8, 2025 6:00:00 AM

Monitor KPIs in Existing Aviation SMS

Setting up and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) in existing aviation safety management systems (SMS) can be a daunting task. This especially applies to first-time safety managers or safety managers new to a company who are taking over an existing aviation SMS.

Such safety managers have many questions like:

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Topics: Key Performance Indicators

4 Pillars | How to Conduct Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jan 1, 2025 6:15:00 AM

What Is Safety Performance Monitoring and Measurement

Safety performance monitoring is an essential component of aviation safety management systems (SMS). And by “essential,” performance monitoring is like your SMS implementation's immune system.

When performance monitoring is not handled well, your safety program will wither. Worse yet, your operating certificate may be in jeopardy.

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Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

How to Be Compliant With ICAO Change Management Requirement

Posted by Christopher Howell on Dec 25, 2024 6:45:00 AM

What Is Change Management

Management of change in aviation SMS is a formal process for facilitating changes in safety programs. Usually, this process is instigated when required changes are going to affect higher-level, systems in the SMS. Smaller changes are handled with corrective actions.

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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

Overcoming Most Common Aviation SMS Implementation Challenges - Free Resources

Posted by Christopher Howell on Dec 4, 2024 6:00:00 AM

Plans and Challenges of Implementation

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) implementation takes a long time to fully mature, usually three to five years if you are lucky.

Once there, your SMS will continually be tweaked and updated, which of course requires further implementation and monitoring.

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Topics: 1-Safety Policy

8 Charts to Monitor Safety Culture Performance in Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Posted by Christopher Howell on Nov 20, 2024 6:00:00 AM

Types of Aviation Safety Culture

While it is normal to say that safety culture is something you should pay attention to, it might be better to say that safety culture are things you should pay attention to.

Safety culture in aviation organizations is more than just one thing. There are multiple “types” of safety culture.

The five faces of safety culture you should consider are:

  1. Safety commitment
  2. Safety behavior
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KPI Dashboard Monitoring Guidelines for Aviation SMS – With Free KPI Resources

Posted by Christopher Howell on Nov 13, 2024 6:45:00 AM

Presenting Key Performance Indicators to Managers

A KPI key performance indicator remains the most effective means to communicate and monitor aviation service providers' goals and objectives related to the aviation safety management system (SMS). These dashboards offer the most value when they are:

  • Focused on Organizational Key Objectives;
  • Free From Clutter;
  • Easily Personalized for Individual Managers;
  • Secured From Unauthorized Personnel;
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Topics: Key Performance Indicators

Site content provided by Northwest Data Solutions is meant for informational purposes only. Opinions presented here are not provided by any civil aviation authority or standards body.

 

 

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