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

Safety Chart: How to Monitor Risk Management Tasks in Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jul 6, 2019 6:07:00 AM

What Is Task Delegation in Aviation Risk Management

Proper task delegation in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is critical for the efficiency and success of aviation risk management processes. An SMS implementation revolves around:

  • Designing risk management processes;
  • Implementing processes;
  • Monitoring processes; and
  • Reacting to exceptions discovered during system monitoring processes.
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

How Aviation Safety Articles Satisfy Recurring SMS Training Requirements

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jul 2, 2019 6:07:00 AM

Aviation SMS Training Does Not Have to Break the Bank

In Phase 2 and Phase 4 of an ICAO compliant aviation safety management system (SMS), aviation service providers must

  • Deliver training relevant to reactive risk management processes; and
  • Develop training relevant to operational safety assurance.
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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

How Do Office Staff Participate in Aviation SMS?

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jun 28, 2019 6:03:00 AM

Common Question Before Aviation SMS Implementations

I interact with safety managers and accountable executives as we provide consulting and database services for aviation service providers implementing formal aviation safety management systems (SMS).

Occasionally, I hear these groups saying, "We only want the pilots to participate in the SMS."

Worse yet, I'll see an airline with 4,000 employees telling me that only "20-40 people in the company are active in the aviation SMS,"

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

How to Monitor and Control Risk in Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jun 26, 2019 5:05:00 AM

Safety Professionals Need to Understand Risk Control Strategies

Aviation safety managers must monitor risk controls for effectiveness as they are associated with many hazards encountered in daily operations. There is an expectation of regulatory agencies that aviation service providers' implemented safety management systems (SMS) will:

  • proactively manage safety;
  • identify potential hazards,
  • determine the risk associated with those identified hazards; and
  • implement and monitor control measures that mitigate the risk.
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

Time to Review Your Aviation SMS Data Management Strategy

Posted by Christopher Howell on Jun 17, 2019 6:01:00 AM

Aviation SMS Are Not Required by All Operators

In November 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICA0) mandated the implementation of formal aviation safety management systems (SMS) for most commercial aviation service providers. Besides the usual suspects of large airlines and airports, the list of required operators includes

  • flight schools,
  • aircraft designers,
  • aircraft parts manufacturers, and
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

How to Choose Your Aviation Safety Database Solution

Posted by Christopher Howell on May 27, 2019 6:03:00 AM

Which Aviation Safety Database Should We Choose?

Aviation safety managers become apprehensive at certain points in their careers. We see this frequently when:

  • They are deciding to purchase an aviation safety database solution; or
  • They are setting up a new safety database for their SMS program; or
  • They are assigned to manage an existing aviation SMS database program.
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Topics: Aviation SMS Database

Aviation SMS Implementation Challenges for Small Service Providers

Posted by Christopher Howell on May 20, 2019 5:43:00 AM

Disadvantaged Part-Time Safety Managers

Incredible challenges assail aviation safety managers at smaller operations who are implementing aviation safety management systems (SMS). In short, their organizational size and make-up present a very real hazard that must be recognized and mitigated.

Recognizing the hazard, as well as awareness of possible remedies will be a first step toward overcoming these SMS implementation challenges.

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation

5 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your First Aviation SMS Implementation

Posted by Christopher Howell on May 8, 2019 6:00:00 AM

Aviation SMS Implementations Take Years to Fully Mature

Safety managers are fresh, fully motivated when starting their aviation SMS implementations.

SMS Implementations are marathons, not sprints. Initially, you will be able to have many short bursts to get you out of the starting gate. These short bursts may be attributed to:

  • Management pressure;
  • Upcoming audits (regulatory or client); or
  • Stage of your aviation SMS implementation.
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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation

What Should Be the Number One KPI in the Aviation Business?

Posted by Christopher Howell on May 2, 2019 6:01:00 AM

Questions on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Aviation

Aviation safety professionals frequently email our subject-matter experts (SMEs) for opinions regarding aviation safety management systems (SMS) and advice as to managing key performance indicators (KPIs). Goal setting relating to key performance indicators is also another very common thread we are asked about.

In the case that follows, I was asked:

"If I were to join the one KPI on Quality & Safety for a CEO in the Aviation business, what would you recommend me to suggest?

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Topics: Key Performance Indicators

What Is Proactive Hazard Identification and Risk Management in Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Apr 30, 2019 6:07:00 AM

What Is Proactive Hazard Management

I have a friend across the globe who is having trouble getting his head around proactive hazard identification and the resulting risk management processes in his aviation safety management system (SMS). This friend naturally prompted this blog article to explain an approach to proactively managing hazards and documenting hazard identification and risk analysis activities.

Proactive hazard management from a high level is looking at your operations and identifying hazards that may affect operations.

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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

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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