SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

How to Define Severity and Likelihood Criteria on Your Risk Matrix

Posted by Tyler Britton on Mar 30, 2022 5:32:00 AM

What Is a Risk Matrix Used for in Aviation Risk Management

The risk matrix is the standard risk assessment tool in aviation SMS and other risk management industries. It’s a standard tool because it’s simple and accomplishes all of the needs of a risk assessment, namely:

  • Rank safety concerns;
  • Understand if an issue’s risk is “tolerable”;
  • Ensure assessments are consistent; and
  • Ensure assessments are easy and intuitive to perform.
Read More

Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

Safety Chart: Mandatory vs. Voluntary Aviation SMS Issues to Report

Posted by Tyler Britton on Feb 2, 2022 6:00:00 AM

Why Mandatory vs. Voluntary Safety Reporting Chart Is Important

We generally think of aviation safety management system (SMS) charts as being visual representations of various pieces of safety data. This safety data commonly comes from performance-based data or classification-type data.

Performance based data may include:

  • How many safety reports were submitted within the past month?
  • Percentage of safety reports closed on time;
Read More

Topics: Risk Management Software

10 Best Ways to Promote Safety in Your Aviation SMS [With Free Checklist]

Posted by Tyler Britton on Sep 9, 2021 4:03:00 AM

Why Managers Struggle With Safety Promotion

Safety Promotion is definitely the least appreciated of the 4 Pillars of SMS.

Almost without fail, promoting safety takes the “back seat” in most aviation safety programs because civil aviation authorities and auditors are significantly more interested in seeing that you comply with:

  • Safety Policy,
  • Safety Risk Management, and
  • Safety Assurance.
Read More

Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

10 Great Reports to Monitor Safety Performance in SMS – With Examples

Posted by Christopher Howell on Sep 7, 2021 6:06:00 AM

Most Important Questions to Monitor Safety Performance in SMS

Monitoring safety performance in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is undoubtedly one of the most important tasks you will undertake in your SMS. Regulatory requirements turn to monitoring the performance of the SMS from a "nice-to-have program" for reducing risk and avoiding accidents to a "must have and must demonstrate proof" to comply with SMS regulatory requirements.

Safety performance monitoring is integral for maintaining Safety Assurance and the integrity of your SMS program.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

10 Most Important Hazard Reporting Forms Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Sep 2, 2021 5:59:00 AM

How to Use Hazard Reporting Forms

It’s hard to underestimate the value that high-quality hazard reporting forms provide your aviation SMS.

Hazard reporting quite literally provides the underpinning for your risk management activities. No hazard reports...nothing for you to manage.

Hazard reporting forms provide incentives, organization, and guidance for employees when they detect irregularities in the operational environment. Having specific questions for specific types of issues makes reporting easier and faster than having vague or general questions.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

10 Tasks for Starting Aviation SMS Implementation (& in This Order)

Posted by Tyler Britton on Aug 31, 2021 5:44:00 AM

Most Important Items for Starting SMS Implementation

If you are reading this article, chances are that you either already have started implementing an aviation safety management system (SMS), or you are considering an SMS implementation.

Starting an aviation SMS implementation from ground zero may be confusing and difficult for any safety professional, much less a layperson who may be tasked to implement an aviation SMS. There is so much to do, such as

  • gap analysis;
  • implementation plan;
Read More

Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation

2 Reasons Top Safety Managers Fail in Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Aug 26, 2021 6:00:00 AM

Aviation SMS Implemented in Top-Down Approach

Every aviation safety management system (SMS) must be implemented in a top-down fashion.

There can be no other way, regardless of how liberal you think your company is.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

20 Benefits of Aviation SMS Software

Posted by Tyler Britton on Aug 24, 2021 6:25:00 AM

What Are Safety Benefits of SMS Software

The safety benefits of SMS software are not the primary reason a company initially decides to adopt the special, built-to-purpose software. If this were true, these companies would have acquired advanced SMS database solutions long before aviation safety management systems (SMS) became a regulatory requirement.

Read More

Topics: Risk Management Software

20 Indicators What Good Aviation Safety Culture Looks Like [With Free Checklist]

Posted by Tyler Britton on Aug 19, 2021 4:17:00 AM

Defining Good Safety Culture in Aviation SMS

Safety culture will be the last thing to develop in your SMS.

Once you fully implement your SMS design (Phase 3 of SMS implementation), you will need to monitor your SMS to ensure it is functioning as designed. Aviation safety programs with good safety cultures usually operate as designed.

Having good safety culture helps you complete Phase 4 of SMS implementation. Broadly speaking, a good safety culture is characterized by:

Read More

Topics: Safety Culture

20 Questions for Your Safety Policy in Aviation SMS [With Free Resources]

Posted by Tyler Britton on Aug 17, 2021 5:00:00 AM

What Is Safety Policy in Aviation SMS

Your Safety Policy is the canon of your aviation safety program. It outlines all of the essential information anyone in your company would want to know regarding safety. It is one of the first components of your SMS that you will develop. It will be the document that you:

  • Reference in response to employee questions;
  • Demonstrate to auditors; and
  • Use to outline essential facets of your SMS.
Read More

Topics: 1-Safety Policy

Site content provided by Northwest Data Solutions is meant for informational purposes only. Opinions presented here are not provided by any civil aviation authority or standards body.

 

 

Benefits of SMS Pro Database

Affordable, Basic Compliance for Small Aviation Service Providers

Best Practices for Aviation SMS

 

Watch SMS Pro Demo Videos

These two on-demand videos offer:

  • High-level overview of SMS Pro;
  • Hazard Reporting & Risk Management walk-through.
Watch SMS Pro Demo Videos
 
 
 
 

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts