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 Recurrent Aviation SMS Training Makes Good Business Sense

Posted by Christopher Howell on Apr 20, 2021 6:01:00 AM

Recurrent SMS Training Expenses Outweigh Benefits?

Aviation service providers investing in aviation safety management systems (SMS) can expect to reduce

  • fatalities,
  • injuries, and
  • illnesses.

These reductions save providers in a variety of ways, such as

  • lower insurance costs;
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Topics: Risk Management Training

Advanced Aviation SMS: Rewriting Duties to Align with Business Goals

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 24, 2021 6:00:00 AM

Aviation SMS Implementations Follow Forked Path

Since November 2006, operators inadvertently followed a forked path while implementing required aviation safety management systems (SMS). In some cases, they made conscious choices, but in most cases, the path they chose was forced upon them due to imperfect information.

I prefer to believe that most who started the SMS journey had hoped that they would succeed and reap the expected rewards while simultaneously improving global transportation system safety. That is a true win-win.

From my global perspective, results have been less than spectacular, but there is hope.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Database, 1-Safety Policy

Advanced Aviation SMS: Explicit Duties Impact Financial Business Success

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 22, 2021 6:30:00 AM

Duties & Responsibilities Shape Behaviors

This is an exciting article. We share concrete tips and tricks to modify your aviation safety management system (SMS) in this Advanced Aviation SMS series. To date, this advanced series has been focused on a financial business theory supported by science and technology.

In this article, we discuss modifying employees' expected safety duties and responsibilities. Shifting from a pure safety focus has benefits. For example, this "safety-through-quality" change will provide both sufficient quantity and quality of inputs for your aviation SMS to prosper as designed.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy

Advanced Aviation SMS: Avoid Leaving Money Behind - Implementation Styles

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 17, 2021 6:15:00 AM

Powerful Aviation SMS When Implemented Properly

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) are not simply regulatory requirements but a "new way of doing business."

"Yeah, we've all heard these ambiguous praises before," I hear you saying.

  • What else is new?
  • Where is the proof?
  • Why aren't we seeing the benefits? or
  • Only large companies with high volumes benefit.
Read More

Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy

Advanced Aviation SMS: Financial Opportunities Found in Safety Policy

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 15, 2021 6:15:00 AM

Passing Audits but Failing Financial Performance

Smaller aviation service providers have adopted a not-so-secret weapon that can provide financial benefits, but they are not using it effectively.

Aviation SMS possesses extremely powerful risk management workflows that can level the playing field for smaller operators with business acumen. Before the SMS mandate, smaller operators lacked both the size and sophistication required to benefit financially from implementing quality management systems that facilitate continuous improvement. This has changed!

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy

Advanced Aviation SMS: 95% Continue Losses from Inapt Safety Policy

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 10, 2021 6:15:00 AM

Benefits Not Realized from Aviation SMS Implementations

When the drafting founders of modern aviation safety management systems (SMS) planned to improve systemic aviation safety, these managers understood their industry's predominant attitudes relating to safety vs production. They recognized uncontrolled, ill-disciplined operators unnecessarily introduce intolerable risk into our transportation system.

Astute leaders understand that voluntary aviation SMS implementation will never be seriously considered by owners and senior managers unless operators enjoy a chance to financially benefit.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy

Advanced Aviation SMS: Science and Technology Required for Profits

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 8, 2021 5:45:00 AM

Science and Technology in Aviation Business Drive Revenues

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) needlessly continue to remain unprofitable after almost fifteen years.

Your aviation SMS also fails to produce profits. Why?

Science and technology are not applied with equal zeal as other high-tech-aviation systems. SMS economic disappointments are very easily seen in smaller operators with fewer than 500 employees. This inequality of high-technology adoption creates financial hardships for smaller operators without the education or capital to implement expert systems that minimize financial costs and human efforts required to demonstrate regulatory SMS compliance.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, Quality-Safety Management

Advanced Aviation SMS: Top Management Support Drives SMS Profits

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 3, 2021 6:00:00 AM

Management's Absence Creates SMS Adoption Challenges

Many newly-appointed safety managers try to single-handedly push their organization's aviation safety management systems (SMS) to success. Safety managers are hired to perform an ambitious undertaking that is not heartily welcomed by the entire organization.

SMS implementations require consistent change management activities. These activities naturally induce frustration and resistance to change.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy, Quality-Safety Management

What Is Advanced Aviation SMS? → Safety Management Systems

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 1, 2021 6:00:00 AM

What Is Advanced Aviation SMS Series?

Aviation SMS Must Be Business First—Safety Second

Does your aviation SMS make money? Probably not.

Why not? Most aviation SMS failures result from operators consistently neglecting to follow the prescribed aviation SMS recipe as originally designed. Other operators treat SMS as a "check-the-box" obligation to satisfy as expeditiously as possible, thereby consciously neglecting the "presumable benefits."

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 3-Safety Assurance

Advanced Aviation SMS: Seek Permission Before Focusing on SMS Profits

Posted by Christopher Howell on Feb 24, 2021 6:00:00 AM

Financial Opportunities Abound From Aviation SMS Processes

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) are designed to be implemented in a top-down managerial style for some "not-so-obvious reasons." For one reason, the "accountable executive" cannot accurately be considered "accountable" when safety initiatives and budgets exist beyond their direct control.

Accountable executives control organizational resources, including finances. Organizational safety financial decisions must be controlled and optimally championed by accountable executives.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, Safety Culture

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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