SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Understanding Importance of Interfaces in Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on Sep 22, 2020 6:00:00 AM

What Are Interfaces in Aviation Operations?

Besides the expected airlines and airport operations, the interacting relationships across modern airports encompass many aviation industry segments, including:

  • Ground handling companies;
  • Fixed based operators (FBOs);
  • AMOs;
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

Why Safety Promotion Requires More Focus in Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Sep 14, 2020 6:15:00 AM

Adequate Safety Promotion Is Scarce in Most Aviation SMS

Like safety training, safety promotion in aviation safety management systems (SMS) is wrought with rigid material that screams in so many ways, “tune me out!”

Much of the safety promotion information doled out at workplaces looks more like an IKEA how-to manual than serving as a tool to make employees cheer for, and feel as if they are true contributors to their aviation SMS.

Safety promotion is among the most important elements in every aviation SMS implementation.

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Topics: 4-Safety Promotion

What Are the Greatest Challenges for Aviation Safety Managers? - With Resources

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jul 7, 2020 6:45:00 AM

Why Being a Safety Manager Is Tough

Being an aviation safety officer is an often unrewarding and challenging job. In many ways, an aviation safety manager is like a professional plate spinner balancing delicate interests and priorities, such as:

  • Gaining management support for safety programs
  • Overcoming resistance to change from management and general workforce
  • Upholding transparency and Just Culture
  • Maintaining objectivity
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

Checklist for Proactive Safety Culture in Aviation SMS [With Free Resources]

Posted by Christopher Howell on Mar 16, 2020 5:46:00 AM

What Is Proactive Safety Culture in Aviation SMS

The purpose of an aviation safety management system (SMS) is to formally manage operational safety risk to as low as reasonably practical (ALARP). This objective will never be fully achieved unless aviation service providers maintain healthy safety reporting numbers.

In order to optimize safety reporting metrics, an operator must have a safety culture that

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Topics: Quality-Safety Management

How to Automate Aviation SMS Training in 4 Simple Steps

Posted by Tyler Britton on Mar 11, 2020 5:45:00 AM

Common Confusion Regarding Aviation SMS Training

Since November 2006, ICAO has mandated that aviation service providers implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS). Among multiple operators that we have worked with, there has been confusion about:

  • Who should participate in the aviation SMS;
  • Who should receive SMS training;
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Topics: Risk Management Training

5 Best Practices for Data Management in Aviation SMS

Posted by Tyler Britton on Mar 4, 2020 6:30:00 AM

The Importance of Data in Aviation SMS

Highly functioning aviation safety management systems (SMS) always have effective data acquisition and risk management practices. This is not the case for most nascent SMS implementations.

Monitoring SMS performance and spotting safety trends are not at the forefront of most safety managers' minds as they begin their SMS implementations.

Early in this SMS implementation marathon, managers are focused on tasks that don't rely heavily on data acquisition, storage, and organization. These managers rightfully begin educating themselves as to:

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Topics: Aviation SMS Database

5 Core Rules for Risk Analysis Process in Aviation SMS Implementations

Posted by Tyler Britton on Feb 24, 2020 5:59:00 AM

What Is Risk Analysis in Aviation SMS?

Unless you are new to aviation safety management systems (SMS), safety professionals recognize that the objective of aviation SMS is to:

  • Proactively manage safety using documented risk management processes;
  • Identify potential operational safety hazards;
  • Evaluate risk;
  • Implement control measures that mitigate identified risk; and
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Topics: Quality-Safety Management

How to Create Aviation SMS Implementation Plan - With Templates

Posted by Christopher Howell on Feb 19, 2020 5:16:00 AM

What You Need to Know About Aviation SMS Implementation Plans

If you are reading this, chances are you have just begun implementing your aviation safety management systems (SMS). Or, you would like to see how your implementation plan stacks up against the suggested process for creating an implementation plan.

Either way, the important things you need to know about aviation SMS implementation plans are that they:

  • Organize all elements of SMS;
  • Provide you with a road map of implementation-order;
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Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation

Flight Risk Assessment Tool Good Aviation SMS Backbone?

Posted by Tyler Britton on Feb 10, 2020 6:00:00 AM

What Is a Flight Risk Assessment Tool

A flight risk assessment tool, commonly known as FRAT, is a very important element of your SMS program.

Every flight has risks and hazards.

Using a FRAT tool helps airline SMS programs evaluate reviews and identify those risks. Based on this FRAT review process, safety programs can develop mitigation strategies.

A FRAT tool contains a list of various questions. Each question has a “risk level” attached to it. Counting up the risk level of each question will provide the total risk assessment score for the flight.

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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

How Much Risk Are You Willing to Accept? The Circle of Risk Acceptance

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jan 20, 2020 5:41:00 AM

How Much Risk Are You Taking On?

How much risk are you willing to accept?

This is one of the most critical questions that every aviation service provider needs to answer. The answer will influence every single risk management activity in the operator's aviation safety management system (SMS).

What is your risk appetite? Not surprisingly, our risk of appetite changes based on a variety of factors that require constant monitoring, including:

  • Competition;
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Topics: 2-Safety Risk Management

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.

 

 

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