SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Tyler Britton

350,000 words and counting on safety risk management concepts, guidance, tools, and best practices.

Recent Posts

How to Automatically Monitor KPIs in Aviation SMS - With Free KPI Resources

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jan 3, 2018 5:19:00 AM

What Is a KPI in Aviation SMS

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), also called SPIs (Safety Performance Indicators), are data metrics that indicate the baseline performance of your SMS for managing safety. The term Key Performance Indicators is indicative of the scope of KPIs:

  • “Key” means that KPIs assess only the most critical areas of your SMS, namely a data representation of Safety Objectives;
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Topics: Key Performance Indicators

How to Switch Your Aviation SMS Program

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 27, 2017 5:59:00 AM

What Does It Mean to “Switch” SMS Program

If you’re reading this, it means you are considering or curious about what it takes to switch your safety management system. But, what are we talking about when we say “switch” your SMS program. There are a couple of possible scenarios that you should consider:

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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation

What an Aviation Operational Risk Profile Looks Like in Real SMS Programs

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 20, 2017 6:18:00 AM

What Is an SMS Operational Risk Profile (ORP)

Under the umbrella of many SMS compliance agencies, an operational risk profile (ORP) is a requirement that is the core of your hazard, risk, and control measure accountability. That’s another way of saying that all risk mitigation “resources” are identified in your ORP.

But what are risk mitigation “resources?” These are any elements that are relevant to risk exposure and risk reduction. Resources can be:

  • Knowledge;
  • Budgets;
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

What Continuous Improvement Compliance Looks Like in Real SMS Program

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 18, 2017 6:07:00 AM

What Is Continuous Improvement in Aviation SMS

Continuous improvement in aviation SMS programs in the formal process by which safety programs correct substandard safety performances that have been identified. Correcting substandard performance has several basic elements:

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Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

Pros and Cons of In-House SMS Database and Off-the-Shelf Solutions (COTS)

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 15, 2017 5:53:00 AM

Consider Your Business Needs

Ultimately, choosing between custom-built, in-house aviation safety management system (SMS) software and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions comes down to three key considerations:

  • Your budget;
  • How quickly you need your software; and
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Topics: Aviation SMS Database

How to Create Safety Reports for SMS Programs

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 11, 2017 5:36:00 AM

What Are Safety Reports in SMS Programs?

Safety reports in SMS programs are your primary weapon for communicating safety information to stakeholders. Safety information will be catered to stakeholders.

Stakeholders are simply anyone who you need to communicate safety information to, such as:

  • Upper management;
  • Investors;
  • Employees;
  • Internal safety team;
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

All Corrective Preventative Actions Not Created Equal: Initial Mitigating Actions

Posted by Tyler Britton on Dec 4, 2017 5:55:00 AM

What Are Corrective Preventative Actions (CPAs)

In aviation safety management systems (SMS), reported safety issues and audit findings are run through an operator's documented risk management process. During this process, additional mitigation measures must be applied to safety concerns whenever the risk is either:

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Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

How Long Does It Take to Train Employees on New SMS Program

Posted by Tyler Britton on Nov 22, 2017 6:03:00 AM

What Is a New SMS Program

A new SMS program means adopting a new safety program in your organization. This new safety program can be an entirely new risk management program where one did not exist before. This new safety program can replace an old SMS, such as in the case of switching SMS programs.

Both scenarios involve significant (if not total) overhaul to the existing way of doing things in an organization.

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Topics: Risk Management Training

How to Practice Safety Transparency and Just Culture in SMS Programs

Posted by Tyler Britton on Nov 20, 2017 5:49:00 AM

What Is Just Culture in Aviation SMS Programs

In layman's terms, Just Culture in aviation SMS programs is an organization’s commitment to focusing on learning and improving in the light of unsafe acts, as opposed to blaming and punishing.

In many ways, just culture is a commitment that is as much documentation and policy as it is actions on the part of management.

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

Examples How to Improve Safety Culture in Aviation SMS – With Resources

Posted by Tyler Britton on Nov 8, 2017 5:41:00 AM

What Is Safety Culture in Aviation SMS

“Safety culture” is an ambiguous phrase that gets thrown around a lot.

Sometimes we use it when we talk about poor safety awareness when employees behave ignorantly on the ramp or around dangerous situations.

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Topics: Quality-Safety Management

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