Steve Potts
Steve Potts, of Swedish-Norwegian descent, was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, where his passion for flying began early. Earning his pilot’s license at 16, he built a 30-year career, flying single-engine Cessnas and twin-engine turboprops across Alaska’s challenging terrains. Starting as a bush pilot, Steve delivered supplies to remote villages, later flying commercial routes for regional airlines in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. With over 15,000 flight hours, he became a respected mentor and advocate for aviation safety. In 2015, Steve joined SMS Pro, a leader in Safety Management System software. As a senior consultant, he develops safety protocols and training, helping aviation organizations worldwide meet international standards. Steve remains active in Fairbanks, occasionally flying and volunteering with youth programs. He holds a Bachelor’s in Aviation Technology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is a certified flight instructor (CFI) and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), and enjoys skiing and preserving his heritage through traditional cooking.
For aviation safety managers and accountable executives, implementing a Safety Management System (SMS) under 14 CFR Part 5 is a regulatory requirement that strengthens safety performance and ensures compliance with FAA standards. A critical step in this process is preparing and submitting an SMS Implementation Plan to the FAA, which outlines how your organization will develop and operationalize its SMS.
This guide walks you through the essentials of creating an SMS Implementation Plan, the FAA’s expectations, and the submission process. Whether you’re a Part 135 operator, Part 91.147 air tour operator, or Part 21 certificate holder, this article provides actionable steps to help you meet FAA requirements and foster a robust safety culture.
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Topics:
Aviation SMS Implementation,
3-Safety Assurance,
1-Safety Policy,
2-Safety Risk Management
For aviation safety managers and accountable executives, ensuring compliance with the FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) requirements under 14 CFR Part 5 is a cornerstone of operational safety. A critical step in this process is submitting a Declaration of Compliance (DOC) to the FAA, which confirms that your organization’s SMS, including its Safety Risk Management (SRM) processes, meets regulatory standards.
This article provides a deep dive into the role of SRM in SMS compliance and a detailed list of required content for the DOC. Whether you’re managing a Part 135 operation, a Part 91.147 air tour operation, or a Part 21 certificate holder, this guide will help you craft a compliant DOC while strengthening your SRM practices.
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Topics:
4-Safety Promotion,
3-Safety Assurance,
1-Safety Policy,
2-Safety Risk Management,
Risk Management Training,
FAA Compliance
Why Hazard Identification is the Backbone of Aviation Safety
Hazard identification is the cornerstone of a robust Aviation Safety Management System. Without pinpointing potential risks—be it human errors, equipment failures, or environmental factors—aviation operations are vulnerable to accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates hazard identification as a core component of FAA Part 5 compliance, emphasizing proactive risk management.
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Topics:
3-Safety Assurance,
2-Safety Risk Management
As a new aviation safety manager, stepping into the complex world of aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) can feel overwhelming. One of your critical responsibilities is ensuring regulatory compliance with major aviation authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
A cornerstone of this responsibility is conducting a Regulatory Document Review. This process ensures your organization adheres to the latest standards, mitigates risks, and maintains operational safety.
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Topics:
3-Safety Assurance,
2-Safety Risk Management,
FAA Compliance
In the changing world of aviation regulations, safety remains non-negotiable. A robust Safety Management System (SMS) has become the backbone of any organization striving to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with regulatory standards, such as those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and national civil aviation authorities like the FAA or EASA.
For new safety managers, training staff on SMS concepts can feel overwhelming, especially when tasked with guiding accountable executives—senior leaders responsible for SMS oversight. These executives, often juggling multiple responsibilities, need clear, actionable steps to demonstrate SMS compliance effectively.
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Topics:
4-Safety Promotion,
1-Safety Policy,
2-Safety Risk Management,
Risk Management Training,
FAA Compliance,
Safety Culture
When Should I Review Our SMS Manual?
It's very important to review SMS Manuals.
The most common audit finding is that the operator is not conducting operations as stated in their SMS manual.
Furthermore, your manual is only as useful as the information it contains. If the information is out of date, employees will lose trust in it. This undermines the safety culture you've worked to build.
Review your manual at regular intervals. Annual reviews are best practice, but some operators go as long as 3 years between reviews.
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Topics:
1-Safety Policy
What Is an SMS Implementation Plan?
As a safety manager, the implementation plan is your road map to success, but finding guidance on how to create one is difficult at best.
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Topics:
Aviation SMS Implementation
Sell SMS to Top Management
Securing top management support is critical for a successful aviation Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring compliance with FAA Part 5 and ICAO Annex 19 while enhancing safety for airlines, airports, MROs, and flight schools. These four actionable tips, leveraging SMS Pro tools, help safety managers pitch SMS effectively, overcoming resistance and driving organizational buy-in, as discussed in our management support guide.
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Topics:
1-Safety Policy
Why Is Safety Culture So Important?
In many of today's articles about aviation safety management systems, there is something about safety culture. Why? Safety culture ties into every part of your SMS, feeding it as your SMS nurtures your safety culture in return.
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Topics:
Safety Culture
Or How to Create an Aviation SMS in 7 Simple Steps
You’re probably familiar with the 4 Phases of SMS implementation outlined by ICAO 9859. Here, I’ll break them down another way, into 7 steps.
For a deep dive into how to use the 4 Phases of SMS implementation,
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Topics:
Aviation SMS Implementation
