My field of study is aerospace management. In one path of this field alone, airport management, many different systems require complex, diverse operations. Some of these systems are:
The one common thread between each of these systems is aviation SMS. In airport management, SMS promotes personnel to manage risk more effectively, no matter the department. Because of this, SMS is an invaluable tool for airport managers to create an inclusive environment throughout the organization.
There is a saying I often heard in the military “we train how we fight.” It means that the training a person would undergo with the utmost seriousness. This practice has its merits as it:
Training is a metaphorical toolkit. When dangerous situations arise, personnel can search through their toolkit to find a solution or prevent something bad from happening. SMS training is an important tool in our toolkit as it prepares us for identifying and resolving safety issues.
Taking SMS training seriously reduces the probability of accidents by making personnel proactive.
The largest factor that comes to mind when I think of the part SMS plays in aviation management is the progression of aviation. More private aircraft, small startup airlines, jets with larger payloads such as the A380, and even the increase in the worldwide population warrant that more people will be moved by air travel in the future.
More lives passing through the hands of airports only increase the demand for safety. Studies still prove that air travel is safer than traveling by car, but why? It’s because the everyday person in aviation strives to do their best.
In Pennsylvania, we receive 50 hours of coached driving, tested by the Department of Transportation, and then released into the world. We are often left without additional training such as accident avoidance.
In aviation, however, pilots will undergo nearly 1,500 hours of flight time before they can even be interviewed to fly a passenger jetliner as a first officer. From there the learning continues under the close observation of the captain and chief pilot. Aviation only remains safe because of:
The focus on extensive training with an emphasis on safety has transformed the aviation industry into the safest mode of travel in the world. Since the 1980s, the number of aviation accidents has dwindled drastically.
Another lesson I learned from the military is that complacency kills—getting too comfortable in one particular area, so we allow ourselves to get into a routine and relax on policies or practices.
One of the best ways to combat complacency is ongoing (recurrent) training.
SMS is a critical training component for airport management because it:
SMS is a tool for airport management to analyze risk in advance and act accordingly.
Last updated October 2024.