SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

What Are Classifications in Aviation Risk Management

In SMS, it’s extremely useful to organize reported issues by classifying them with classifications.

A classification is simply a unit of organization. By “unit of organization,” we are talking about a short phrase that describes the safety issue in one way. This issue can be described in terms of:

• It’s “type” of problem, such as “Aircraft damage in hangar”;
• It’s a central issue (hazard), such as "Runway excursion";

The Real Goals of Aviation SMS Training

Organization’s with successful aviation safety management systems (SMS) training strategies universally have very well performing aviation SMS. End of story.

Training can make or break a company.

And let’s be honest, 99% of all training courses you or I have ever attended were dreadfully boring, uninspiring, and (worst of all) forgettable.

There are really only two main goals for training to change. The first goal of aviation SMS training is preparing individuals for how to act safely in all situations, be it

What Is Safety Risk Management Process

Your Safety Risk Management process is how you design your SMS.

First you design and document your SMS, and then update it as your SMS and/or environment changes.

Developing your SRM process, and in turn, designing your SMS happens largely in Phase 3 of aviation SMS Implementation.

Completing your SMS design is a major hurdle, as it is extensive and has many moving parts:

Reduce Resistance to Change Through Aviation SMS Training Courses

Reducing resistance to change in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is not often associated with safety training. But when safety managers know the right topics for aviation SMS training and pursue those topics effectively, a natural consequence is:

• A more transparent safety culture;
• Increased safety reporting metrics;
• Improved safety culture;

What Is Transparency in Aviation SMS

Transparency in aviation safety management is concerned with what types information various employee roles have in your company. By “types of information” we are mostly talking about safety concerns that are discovered through hazard reports, audits, etc.

To be clear, your stance on transparency will clearly outline:

What Is the Human Factor Lack of Awareness

The Human Factor Lack of Awareness is the “dead end” that many other Human Factors lead to. It happens when you are:

• Stressed out;
• Tired and fatigued;
• Under pressure; and
• Distracted by something.

Spreadsheet-Based SMS or Software-Based SMS

Running a spreadsheet-based SMS or upgrading to a software-based SMS is a decision that companies are increasingly having to make a choice upon. A majority of aviation safety management systems are spreadsheet-based. If you are a safety manager, your SMS is probably based on spreadsheets.

What Is It Like to Lose Control of Your Aviation SMS

Losing control of your aviation SMS is largely a product of feeling overwhelmed by all the actions, documentation, and tasks required to implement and monitor safety.

While it is possible for safety culture to erode over time, to the point where the SMS does not perform well, losing control of an SMS often means not being able to “keep up” with things like:

• Safety assurance, such as managing safety issues, corrective actions, reviews, inspections, etc.;
• The workload necessary to complete SMS design;

What Is a System in Aviation SMS

First of all, a system is simply a logical, separate part or "entity" within the overall scope of your company that includes things like:

• Its own set of procedures, tasks, etc.
• Its own set of requirements, roles, personnel; and
• Its own set of identified hazards, associated risks, and risk control strategies.

What Is Risk Tolerance

Risk tolerance is simply how much risk you are willing to accept in a given activity, task, situation, etc.

High-risk tolerance is not good.

Low-risk tolerance is good, as it means that people will only allow a limited amount of risky behavior. No more risk should be tolerated than necessary for completing a task.

On a system level, the risk tolerance that your SMS practices called Acceptable Level of Safety.