SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Safety Management Systems Originated Long Ago

The earliest piece of SMS legislation in recorded history is probably the Hammurabi code, a Babylonian law code of ancient Mesopotamia which dates back to 1754 BC.

It was Babylonian king Hammurabi who enacted the code, which consists of 282 laws with scaled punishments in accordance with the ‘an eye for an eye’ adage. The latter is probably the most famous part of the Hammurabi code, which is still renowned today.

The Hammurabi code regulated several contractual matters,

Aviation Safety Auditing for SMS Programs

Auditing is a management practice that is very common in most industrial domains and for a variety of different purposes.

Administrative personnel, for example, are very familiar with financial auditing.

Professionals working under a quality management system certification are familiar with quality auditing.

Lawyers and other professionals dealing with regulatory compliance undergo audits focusing on compliance.

Management Distancing Themselves from Aviation SMS

A common misperception in the aviation industry regarding safety management is that it is primarily a responsibility of the safety manager to work on all safety related matters.

The reality is actually different; paradoxically the safety manager is the one who should be doing the least: s/he should be working only as a facilitator of safety processes.

The real proactive work should be done at the level of each division with each divisional head (e.g. the flight operations manager) heavily involved in risk assessment and safety-sensitive development or updating of operating practices.

Pros and Cons of Technology in Aviation

Technology for a lot of organizations is a key asset, as it is seen as an advantage in the competitive environment; however, from a safety point of view technology is not only an advantage, it also bears possible negative aspects.

In a world where technology has more and more important, people make use of it in more and more aspects of daily life. Nowadays, a lot of tasks are accomplished with the aid of technology or are even done entirely by technology.

Management’s Role in SMS

Managers must take an active role in SMS to consistently improve their knowledge and experience of operations.

I believe managers need to be trained in SMS to ensure their effective participation and contribution to the SMS.

Well-constructed and well-delivered SMS training can make a huge difference in increasing managers’ understanding of the SMS and awareness of safety.

What Is Change Management?

In the aviation industry, it’s important to manage change effectively. Change can be organizational, procedural, or technological.

Change occurs any time an established practice is altered.

Change can seem small, like changing suppliers. Or it could be a large change, like adding a new type of airplane to your feet.

When you plan for changes before they happen, you can take measures to proactively manage risk as well. Managing risk is a fundamental part of managing change.

What Is Safety Culture?

Safety culture is a set of values that a company has in relation to safety and is one of the main characteristics that distinguish one company from other companies.

Some industrial sectors, such as aviation, require a level of safety culture which is higher than in other sectors.

The maturity of the safety culture sometimes depends on the type of business, but this does not mean that industrial sectors, which should have and have a higher level of safety culture, cannot improve. As a matter of fact, safety culture can always be improved.

Multiculturalism in Aviation

In the old days of national airline carriers the crews almost invariably shared the same nationality. Indeed, a common national identity of the workforce was a trademark of these carriers.

Now, with the liberalization of air transport occurring in many parts of the world, workforces have become increasingly multicultural. Examples of this trend can be seen around the world.

Customizing Your SMS Implementation Plan

Aviation companies of all shapes and sizes can benefit from a safety management system or SMS, but when faced with implementing one, small organizations can easily find themselves overwhelmed by the requirements.

In its Safety Management Manual (SMM) the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) proposes a phased approach to SMS implementation. While this approach may work well for large organizations, it doesn't seem to have been developed with small aviation companies in mind.