Enhancing Aviation Safety: Expert Insights, Tips, and Updates from SMS-Pro

What Are Components of Risk Matrix

During the issue management life-cycle, safety managers commonly conduct initial and residual risk assessments on reported issues. In most cases, the risk is a combination of both:

• Probability (frequency), and
• Severity (consequences).

Do We All Know What Is Aviation Safety Management?

Aviation service providers coordinate materials and activities of their core business model in order to achieve desired objectives. These objectives vary by industry segment type, including:

• Manufacturing;
• Aircraft maintenance;
• Transporting cargo and passengers;

Aviation SMS Require Regular Safety Communications

Routine work may dull your alertness.

Careless or inattentive attitudes may soon replace the caution that existed when your job was new and interesting.

Without some periodic reawakening to the ever-present hazards in the aviation environment, lethargy deepens, and chances of accidents occurring increase without us even being aware of the risk.

Budget and 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 to implement AND maintain.

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.

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.

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 its investment in the required and voluntary SMS.

What Is a Risk Matrix Used for in Aviation Risk Management

The risk matrix is the standard risk assessment tool in aviation SMS and other risk management industries. It’s a standard tool because it’s simple and accomplishes all of the needs of a risk assessment, namely:

• Rank safety concerns;
• Understand if an issue’s risk is “tolerable”;
• Ensure assessments are consistent; and
• Ensure assessments are easy and intuitive to perform.

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 to monitoring the performance of the SMS from a "nice-to-have program" for reducing risk and avoiding accidents

Aviation SMS Implemented in Top-Down Approach

Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) are critical for ensuring safety and compliance with FAA Part 5 and ICAO Annex 19, yet even top safety managers can fail without the right approach. This article explores two primary reasons for these failures—lack of accountable executive ownership and inadequate data management tools—and offers solutions using SMS Pro, as highlighted in our safety manager guide.