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

Stu Martin

Stu Martin is an accomplished aerospace safety engineer with over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. Beginning his career on the ramp, Stu developed a hands-on understanding of aircraft operations, maintenance, and safety protocols. His journey from ground operations to engineering has equipped him with a unique perspective on aviation safety, blending practical expertise with technical rigor. Stu has contributed to numerous safety initiatives, including the development of risk assessment frameworks and incident investigation protocols, earning recognition for his commitment to enhancing operational safety. A respected voice in the field, he continues to advocate for robust safety cultures within aviation organizations worldwide.
Find me on:

Recent Posts

4 Pillars | Most Important Elements of Change Management in Aviation SMS

Posted by Stu Martin on May 23, 2019 6:01:00 AM

What Is Change Management in Aviation SMS

Since November 2006, most commercial aviation service providers have been required to implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS) to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) mandate.

Read More

Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

How Safety Managers Shape Safety Culture in Aviation SMS

Posted by Stu Martin on May 22, 2019 5:26:00 AM

Aviation Safety Manager's Allegiance to Company

You depend on your safety manager to monitor and improve safety in your area of operations, regardless of whether you are an:

  • Airline Pilot;
  • Aviation maintenance technician;
  • Baggage handler; or
Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

5 Rules for Selecting KPIs in Aviation SMS - With Free KPI Resources

Posted by Stu Martin on May 21, 2019 6:09:00 AM

Difficulty of Selecting KPIs in Aviation Safety Programs

Selecting key performance indicators (KPIs) in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is neither simple nor always intuitive. In addition to being time-consuming and costly, selecting and monitoring KPIs can also be a stressful experience.

Read More

Topics: Key Performance Indicators

Return on Investment for Aviation SMS Implementations

Posted by Stu Martin on May 17, 2019 6:24:00 AM

How SMS Affects Companies’ Finances

While the safety benefits are often stressed far more than the financial benefits of aviation safety management systems (SMS), this is a mistake. When companies benefit financially from a safety initiative, what this means is that they benefit financially because the safety initiative is actually improving safety.

Read More

Topics: Quality-Safety Management

5 Ways to Avoid Common Aviation SMS Audit Findings

Posted by Stu Martin on May 16, 2019 6:03:00 AM

First Thing to Prepare for Aviation SMS Audits

Audits can be extremely stressful. Especially if things haven't been going well in your aviation safety management system (SMS) in terms of performance or implementation progress.

At this point, there's only one thing that you need to do before anything else:

Read More

Topics: Quality-Safety Management

What Is a Risk Event in Aviation Risk Management and Why You Should Be Using It

Posted by Stu Martin on May 14, 2019 6:08:00 AM

Difference Between Risk and Risk Event

Last year we released a Hazard and Risk Competency Quiz, which deals a lot with the concept of Risk Events. Overall the assessment – which was purposefully very difficult – was very successful.

We received a lot of feedback about Risk Events, and for the most part aviation safety managers

Read More

Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

4 Pillars | What Is Safety Risk Management

Posted by Stu Martin on May 12, 2019 7:05:00 AM

Safety Risk Management Process

If there’s one takeaway for new professionals in aviation safety management, it’s that aviation risk management is a process. It is not a single, solid “thing.”

This process is cyclical and can be identified by several stages that form a systematic approach to safety risk management, including:

Read More

Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

3 Reasons Why Aviation Safety Culture Leads Directly to Safety Performance

Posted by Stu Martin on May 11, 2019 6:06:00 AM

What Is Aviation Safety Culture

By definition, aviation safety culture is an organization’s commitment to safety. I tend to find this definition limiting.

Perhaps a better way to understand safety culture is the means of realizing safety success, in which commitment is just one part.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

4 Pillars | Why Documentation in Aviation SMS Is Important - Beyond Compliance

Posted by Stu Martin on May 9, 2019 6:39:00 AM

What Is Documentation in Aviation SMS?

In November 2006, the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) mandated that all member states implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS).

Read More

Topics: 1-Safety Policy

How Integrating QMS and SMS Will Improve Aviation Safety Audit Performance

Posted by Stu Martin on May 5, 2019 6:01:00 AM

Benefits of Integrating QMS and SMS

Historically, quality management systems (QMS) and safety management systems (SMS) have been implemented and managed as two entirely separate entities. Today this separation persists in many if not most, companies. This is an unfortunate fact because integrating QMS and SMS provides a great opportunity for organizations to:

Read More

Topics: Quality-Safety 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.

 

 

Benefits of SMS Pro Database

Affordable, Basic Compliance for Small Aviation Service Providers

Best Practices for Aviation SMS

 

Watch SMS Pro Demo Videos

These two on-demand videos offer:

  • High-level overview of SMS Pro;
  • Hazard Reporting & Risk Management walk-through.
Watch SMS Pro Demo Videos
 
 
 
 

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts