Safety Management Systems (SMS) are the heartbeat of modern aviation. They empower operators to manage risks with precision, ensuring safer skies for all. In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandated SMS, sparking a global shift in aviation safety risk management. SMS Pro was born to make compliance intuitive and adaptable. This is the human story of its creation, told with openness and respect.
In November 2006, ICAO introduced a mandate that reshaped aviation safety. Later formalized in Annex 19, it required operators to adopt structured systems for identifying hazards and managing risks. Regulatory bodies like the FAA and EASA followed, introducing frameworks like FAA Part 5 and EASA’s SMS rules. The vision was clear: proactive safety through data-driven decisions. Yet, operators faced hurdles. Small FBOs and global airlines alike struggled with complex regulations and onerous data-collection requirements. Paper-based systems or generic software couldn’t keep up. The industry needed a tool that was both powerful and easy to use, tailored for aviation’s diverse needs.
The mandate’s scope was vast, covering airlines, airports, MROs, and more. Each segment had unique workflows, and solutions had to scale accordingly. Early tools often frustrated safety managers, lacking the flexibility to adapt. A small flight school needed simplicity, while an international airport demanded robust analytics. SMS Pro emerged to address these gaps, offering a platform that felt intuitive yet met global standards.
In 2007, Brendan McCormack, an aviation safety manager with an MBA in the field, attended a demo of Intelex’s safety software. It was pitched as an aviation solution but fell short. The interface was clunky, lacked the aviation "smell," and requiring too many steps for basic tasks. It wasn’t built for aviation’s specific needs, like managing MRO maintenance risks or airline flight operations. Scalability was another issue—small operators found it overwhelming, while larger ones couldn’t customize it. Brendan saw an opportunity for something better.
During an MBA course taught by General Tom Casey, Brendan met Chris Howell, a developer at Northwest Data Solutions (NWDS) in Anchorage, Alaska. Chris had deep expertise in secure web applications, using tools like Microsoft .NET and SQL Server. Together, they envisioned a web-based, aviation-specific SMS tool. Brendan and Chris named it “SMS Pro”—short for SMS Professional or Program. Their goal was a platform that safety managers could use effortlessly, whether at a regional FBO or a global ATC provider.
By early-2007, Chris, Brendan, and NWDS engineer Roman Mikheev began developing SMS Pro. The initial focus was hazard reporting and risk management, with modules like “Submit an Issue” and “Issue Manager.” The platform used DotNetNuke for flexibility, allowing it to scale across organizations and capitalizing on community-based security protocols. In January 2008, Flair Airlines, a Canadian carrier, became the first paying client after Brendan connected with them at a Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) training. Evergreen Helicopters joined in May. Beta testers, including Ford and FedEx, praised the tool’s potential.
Despite early excitement, growth was slow. The U.S. lagged behind Canada and Australia in SMS adoption, and convincing executives to invest was tough. Safety managers saw the value, but budgets were tight. Conferences brought interest but few sales. Then, tragedy struck. Jerry Dennis, director of Alaska’s Medallion Foundation, was a key supporter and SMS Pro's first safety champion. Known for the “Five Shields” safety standards, he mentored the team and planned to promote SMS Pro after retiring in early 2008. His sudden death was a profound loss, robbing the project of a respected advocate who possessed deep aviation connections.
The challenges mounted in 2008 when Peter Gardiner, president of SCSI, fell ill with cancer. Peter had trained NWDS staff on SMS principles and was a vital partner. His passing in 2009, followed by colleague John Richardson’s absence due to his wife’s illness, left SMS Pro without key evangelists and an end-user training organization. The team leaned on strategic partnerships to stay afloat. The Medallion Foundation, SCSI, and later JDA Aviation Technology Solutions, led by Mike Rioux and Joe Del Balzo, provided expertise and credibility.
In 2009, another blow came. Brendan McCormack faced a conflict-of-interest ultimatum from his oil company employer. With three young children, he chose job security, stepping away from SMS Pro. His departure was felt deeply, but he left a legacy by recruiting Gary Williams, an intelligent retired pilot consultant with a keen eye for usability. Gary’s insights helped refine the platform’s workflows. Sandesh Pandey, a software engineer, also joined, transforming SMS Pro’s interface into a polished, user-friendly experience.
By 2009, SMS Pro had just four clients, including a biz jet operator with 300 pilots. Sales cycles stretched up to two years, and some airports exploited demos to mimic workflows and build their internal systems. Yet, the team pressed on. Chris launched the LinkedIn group “Aviation Safety Management Systems,” connecting with global SMS safety professional and consultants. These partnerships added depth and kept SMS Pro moving forward.
In late 2008, Chris paused development to ensure SMS Pro met global standards. For six weeks, the team conducted gap analyses against ICAO Document 9859, FAA 120-92, Transport Canada, and Australia’s CASA requirements. The findings shaped a new direction. Early modules were reactive, focusing on reporting issues. The team introduced proactive tools like the “Proactive Hazard Analysis Tool” and “Hazard and Risk Registry,” enabling operators to predict risks. Modules like “Trending Charts” and “Performance Monitor” added powerful analytics.
The gap analyses were rigorous. Some modules, like “Issue Manager,” were rewritten multiple times to balance simplicity and functionality. By 2009, SMS Pro offered multilingual support in English, Spanish, French, and German, making it accessible worldwide. A small MRO in France could use it in French, while a German airline accessed it seamlessly. The platform’s scalability shone—whether for 10 employees or 10,000, SMS Pro adapted effortlessly.
These enhancements had real impact. An airport used the “Performance Monitor” to track safety metrics, impressing ICAO auditors. A flight school relied on the “Gap Analysis Tool” to align with Transport Canada standards. SMS Pro became the first tool to fully satisfy ICAO and FAA requirements, setting a benchmark competitors struggled to match.
SMS Pro’s global footprint grew through thoughtful expansions. In 2015, a Taiwanese software engineer added two Chinese dialects, opening doors in Asia’s booming aviation markets. A Chinese airline could now manage safety in Mandarin, streamlining operations. In 2016, Portuguese was introduced, supporting operators in Brazil and Portugal. These additions, alongside English, Spanish, French, and German, made SMS Pro a truly global tool.
By 2010, the platform served airlines, international airports, biz jet operators, and flight schools. New modules like “Corrective Actions Manager” and “SMS Manuals Creator” empowered operators to resolve issues and document policies efficiently. The “Custom Inspection Form Creator” helped an FBO prepare for EASA audits in hours, not days. The web-based design, built on Microsoft .NET and SQL Server, enabled real-time collaboration across departments, from safety teams to executives.
The multilingual platform was a game-changer. A regional airport in Spain used SMS Pro in Spanish to manage compliance, while a Portuguese-speaking MRO tracked maintenance risks. Scalability remained a cornerstone—SMS Pro worked as well for a small flight school as for a multi-national airline. Its intuitive design meant safety managers needed minimal training, saving time and resources.
Today, SMS Pro is a cornerstone of aviation safety, used by airlines, airports, MROs, flight schools, FBOs, and biz jet operators worldwide. Its clean interface and robust features make compliance with ICAO, FAA, and EASA standards straightforward. Safety managers rely on tools like “Issue Manager” to resolve hazards quickly, while auditors use the robust “Auditing Suite” to verify compliance. The platform’s proactive tools, like “Trending Charts,” help predict risks before they escalate.
The impact is tangible. A biz jet operator used “Performance Monitor” to showcase safety metrics, earning FAA approval. An MRO leveraged “Hazard and Risk Registry” to anticipate maintenance issues, reducing downtime. A space tourism client used "Proactive Hazard Analysis Tool" to demonstrate safe system design and hazard management to NASA and the FAA. Available in multiple languages, SMS Pro supports operators from Asia to Latin America. Its scalability ensures it fits any organization, from a 10-person FBO to a 10,000-employee airline to a space tourism business.
SMS Pro’s journey wasn’t without struggle. Competitors tried to replicate its aviation-specific design, and many large companies offered to buy the intellectual property. NWDS stayed committed to its mission, believing in SMS Pro’s unique value. The platform’s success is a testament to the team’s dedication through years of slow growth and loss.
The ICAO mandate of 2006 set the stage, but SMS Pro brought the vision to life. The losses of Jerry Dennis, Peter Gardiner, and Brendan McCormack’s departure were painful, yet their contributions endure. This story, shared with Chris Howell’s commitment to transparency, honors them with respect and gratitude. No offense is intended to those named or their families.
SMS Pro stands as a legacy of resilience and innovation. It empowers aviation professionals to prioritize safety with tools that are intuitive and effective. Visit asms-pro.com to explore how SMS Pro can simplify your compliance journey. Request a demo to see its impact firsthand, and join the mission to keep aviation safety first.