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

Safety Manager Communicates With Upper Management

Aviation safety managers are faced with particular challenges stemming from:

• Acquiring top management support for aviation safety management system (SMS); and
• Maintaining top management support for the safety department.

Aviation Safety Managers Key SMS Personnel

Without fail, every aviation safety manager I have met has the following attributes:

• Resourceful;
• Very hard working;
• Dedicated to the company and task;
• Articulate; and
• Competitive.

Are Aviation SMS Software Programs Necessary?

Most aviation companies are profit-driven. Aviation service providers attempt to provide safe services while providing a return on investment.

Many upper-level managers at smaller companies believe that safety managers don't need modern aviation safety management databases

Problems With Aviation Safety Departments vs Operations

Aviation service providers are in business to provide a service. While some providers are government-funded, most offer their services to achieve common strategic business objectives, namely:

• Increased market share;
• Increased financial or physical resources; or

Aviation Safety Managers Need SMS Management Tools

Safety managers are resourceful professionals. Their respective companies demand that they provide results on extremely limited budgets. Many times safety managers are appointed without adequate training. In these cases, safety managers are kicked into the deep end of the swimming pool.

How to Use Key Performance Indicator Statistics?

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) revolve around the four ICAO pillars:

• Safety Policy;
• Risk Management;
• Safety Assurance; and
• Safety Promotion.

Why Monitor Aviation Safety Key Performance Indicators?

Safety assurance is the third ICAO pillar or component of aviation safety management systems (SMS). While practicing safety assurance, aviation service providers focus on safety performance monitoring and measurement. Monitoring activities include constantly reviewing the effectiveness of established safety risk controls.

Aviation Safety Reporting Database Required - Spreadsheets Equal Noncompliance

Empirical evidence and results from historical aviation accident investigations have shown that accidents are often preceded by safety-related incidents that reveal the presence of untreated hazards.

These "leading indicators" are commonly known to employees and are usually not formally reported

Aviation Safety Reporting Cultures Are Suffering

Most safety managers don't have the luxury of a healthy safety reporting culture in their aviation safety management system (SMS). Managers daily struggle to boost their monthly safety reporting metrics by up to 10% of employees, or one report per month for every 10 employees.

Why Use Hazard Reporting Forms in Aviation Safety Programs?

Web-based hazard reporting templates or forms are key to the healthy performance of aviation safety management systems (SMS). Safety cultures depend on well-designed, user-friendly tools to report and manage reported safety concerns.

Without user-friendly safety reporting forms, there are only a few other options for safety managers to receive hazard and safety reports from

• employees,
• customers,
• suppliers and