SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

What Is Predictive Risk Management?

In aviation safety management systems (SMS), risk management professionals toss around three common terms:

• reactive risk management;
• proactive risk management; and
• predictive risk management.

To avoid confusion, aviation safety professionals need to be clear about the different types of risk management activities and use these terms accordingly.

Benefits of Automated SMS Training for Initial and Recurrent Training Requirements

During the implementation of formal aviation safety management systems (SMS), service providers are expected to develop and deliver SMS training to employees in every implementation phase except the first phase. For example:

• Phase II: Deliver training relevant to reactive risk management processes;
• Phase III: Deliver training relevant to reactive risk management processes; and
• Phase IV: Develop training relevant to operational safety assurance.

Cyber Security in Aviation SMS Data Management

Technology has made aviation safety management systems (SMS) much easier to manage as a whole. Furthermore, this formal, structured approach to managing safety has undeniably contributed to system safety.

Technology is wonderful. It has been changing our lives at an unprecedented rate, and we can easily see how it has positively affected the aviation industry.

Sophisticated software for hazard detection, autopilot, communications, aviation risk management software and

What Are We Really Talking About?

In aviation safety management systems (SMS), the best indicator of a highly performant safety culture isn’t one that has reduced operational risk close to zero, but one that readily adapts to and absorbs safety issues and disturbances as they arise.

In so many words, high-performing aviation SMS is simply able to adjust to instability rather than resist or deflect it. In other words: goes with the flow without any setbacks.

Aviation SMS Implementations Are Result of Many Small Actions

The process of aviation safety management systems (SMS), simply put, is the conglomeration of many small actions on the part of safety management teams, operational managers and employees.

Actions such as:

• Identifying and reporting safety issues;
• Running safety issues through a repeatable risk management process;
• Facilitating safety communications;

Management Incentives to Know If Aviation SMS Management Is Efficient

Every person in a company should be concerned if their aviation safety management system (SMS) management is efficient and working as designed.

Management efficiency in aviation SMS implementations has significant stakes for everyone in the organization, as well as customers who use the company’s services.

Moreover, I think it goes without saying that aviation safety officers, who are both driven and naturally curious about their organization's safety performance, will be logically motivated to monitor the aviation SMS' performance.

What Is Confidence in Aviation Safety Programs?

Confidence in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is trust that the SMS implementation fulfills its obligations. The obligations of SMS include, of course, safety. But they don’t just include safety. The fact is that aviation SMS implementations that set out to only satisfy good-looking safety data or regulatory compliance will plateau or even implode before long.

Bringing Life to a System

It’s easy to get lost in the bureaucracy side of aviation safety management systems (SMS):

• Policies and procedures;
• Safety accountabilities;
• SMS training;
• Risk management processes;

Idle Time Doesn’t Have to Be Dreaded

Aviation safety managers are hardworking professionals, and their daily work schedules can be hectic, challenging, and extremely busy. But for many safety officers – and I’m guessing you may be one of them – there may be times when things become pretty quiet on the "SMS front", as if everything is under control...finally. And a big sigh of relief comes.

Then you suddenly find yourself rubbing your hands together, wondering how to best spend your time. What can I do to add value to our aviation safety management system (SMS)?

The Importance of This Risk Management Chart

If your company is like other aviation service providers, you will have a particular safety issue that keeps coming back time and again. Corrective actions may be implemented or the safety issue isn't severe enough to warrant too much attention. Your recurring safety issue may be:

• Employee fall protection not used;
• Crew-member fatigue;
• Crew not qualified for mission; or
• Ineffective substance abuse monitoring.