SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Why Hazard Reporting Matters

Hazard reporting in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is the backbone of any safety program’s performance.

Every aviation safety program depends upon hazard reports for:

• mitigating operational risk;
• settings goals;
• determining Key Performance Indicators;
• complying with SMS regulatory requirements; and
• implementing relevant risk controls.

Audit Performance Is 90% Aviation Safety Audit Preparation

Okay, I made up the “90%” figure, but aviation safety audit preparation undoubtedly plays a huge role in how you perform aviation SMS audits. Considering that jobs may depend on audit performance, passing them is extremely critical. But you already know this.

Nonetheless when aviation SMS auditors are coming – and the stress level rises – it’s not always easy to prioritize getting prepared.

So much of audit preparation is going depend simply on your ability to know how to prepare.

Why the Issues by Location Chart Is Important

In aviation safety management systems (SMS), locations are often underutilized and neglected detail when reporting or managing safety issues, because modern aviation safety databases can't trend this data effectively.

Furthermore, it’s simply easy to gloss over such details as – what difference does it make? In truth, adding such detail could make no difference to ongoing continuous improvement as risk controls are implemented that should be location agnostic.

The Bane of Aviation SMS Implementations

Apathy kills aviation safety management systems (SMS).

Apathy in SMS is the most insidious kind of resistance because it incites behavior that is extremely hard in which to influence change.

Apathy may take many forms in your aviation SMS, such as:

• Non-participation in the SMS;
• Low safety reporting numbers;

Weigh Aviation SMS Consulting Pros and Cons

Aviation SMS consulting is for professionals who choose to independently contract custom SMS solutions for clients.

SMS consultants have differing roles in their clients’ SMS, depending on the needs of each organization they partner with.

Consultants generally have many years of aviation SMS experience and are equipped with the network and knowledge to provide solutions to diverse needs.

Risk Attitude Is the Informal 13^th Human Factor

When analyzing the types of actions and behavior to address during implementing an aviation safety management system (SMS), you have to consider the risk management attitudes of:

• individuals,
• groups (e.g., departments),
• managers, and
• the organization as a whole.

Safety Promotion Places Safety Into Our Conscious Zone

An aviation safety management system (SMS) can encompass many different elements but has one overarching goal: improve aviation safety.

The best way to achieve that goal depends on what kind of SMS you participate in. Not all SMS implementations are equal. Some operators merely want to check the box. Others may have a distrustful attitude toward management. Consequently, the type of SMS implementation, as well as the "potential" effectiveness of the SMS will be dependent on:

Building on Basic Human Factors Training

Lack of preparedness is a serious concern for aviation safety.

Uninformed actions can quickly result in devastating safety and financial consequences.

Considering human action accounts for approximately 90% of incidents, preparedness in aviation safety is a matter of preparing humans to identify and understand their own actions.

Too Complex for One Person

The long and short of is this: don’t fool yourself. You’re just one person. One component in the clock that makes your aviation safety management system (SMS) tick.

Don’t get me wrong, as an aviation safety manager, inspector, executive, etc. you may be central in keeping the word safety in your SMS program. The basic fact remains that the weight and complexity inherent in all SMS programs – even small programs – are quickly outstripping anyone’s ability to be in the know of everything.

Responsibility for Aviation Risk Management

Aviation risk management is the backbone and general goal of modern aviation safety management systems (SMS).

Developing the maturity of an aviation SMS program is tantamount to cultivating more sophisticated, accurate, and proactive risk management strategies.

Responsibility in aviation risk management is kind of a messy word. Historically and structurally, aviation SMS programs are depicted as being top-down.

The clean answer as far as "who has responsibility for risk management" is that management does.