Enhancing Aviation Safety: Expert Insights, Tips, and Updates from SMS-Pro

How to Conduct Root Cause Analysis

Aviation safety is paramount, and for safety managers, conducting thorough incident investigations is a critical responsibility.

Whether addressing accidents or near-misses, understanding the root causes and implementing effective corrective actions can prevent future occurrences and enhance safety protocols. This article explores the importance of incident investigations, the role of root cause analysis (RCA), and the steps to develop corrective actions that ensure a safer aviation environment.

Manage and Document Safety Risks in Aviation SMS

Managing and documenting safety risks is a cornerstone of an effective Safety Management System (SMS) in aviation. Required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and national regulators like the FAA and EASA, a robust risk management process helps airlines, airports, and other aviation organizations identify, assess, and mitigate hazards before they escalate into incidents.

Proper documentation ensures

• transparency,
• quick and efficient audit performance,
• regulatory compliance, and
• continuous improvement.

This article provides a step-by-step guide to managing and documenting safety risks in aviation SMS, offering practical strategies to enhance safety and streamline operations.

Integrating Fatigue Risk Management Systems

Fatigue is a critical safety concern in aviation, where human performance directly impacts operational outcomes. Integrating a Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) into an Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) enhances safety by proactively addressing fatigue-related risks.

This article explores the importance, benefits, and practical steps of integrating FRMS into aviation SMS.

For new aviation safety managers, writing a system description for a Safety Management System (SMS) can feel daunting. The system description is a foundational document that summarizes an organization’s processes, activities, and interfaces, serving as the starting point for hazard identification and safety risk assessment.

It outlines the aviation system in which the organization operates, including internal and external entities, authorities, and interfaces that contribute to safe service delivery.

A well-crafted system description is critical for implementing an effective SMS, ensuring compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 19 and national regulations like the FAA’s 14 CFR Part 5 or EASA’s requirements. This article provides actionable tips to help aviation safety managers quickly and effectively write a system description, streamlining the process while meeting regulatory and operational needs.

Under CAR 702, 703, 704, 706, 571, and 573??

In Canada, the requirement for a formal Safety Management System (SMS) under the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) applies to specific categories of air operators and organizations, as outlined in CAR 107 and related subparts.

Based on the regulations and their applicability to CAR 702, 703, 704, 706, 571, and 573, here’s which of these require a formal SMS as of year 2025:

Training staff on Safety Management System (SMS) concepts can be a daunting task for new aviation safety managers, especially when guiding accountable executives—senior leaders responsible for SMS oversight.

A critical component of SMS is the safety policy, which includes clear commitments to continuous improvement, compliance, and resource allocation. These commitments, endorsed by the accountable executive, signal an organization’s dedication to safety and regulatory adherence, as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and national authorities like the FAA or EASA.

Addressing CAR 107 Requirements

Below is a detailed description of how SMS Pro (asms-pro.com), a web-based aviation Safety Management System (SMS) software, addresses the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) 107 requirements for aviation service providers. Each CAR 107 requirement is mapped to SMS Pro’s capabilities, with specific modules identified where applicable, based on information from the SMS Pro website and related sources. The response also notes any potential limitations where SMS Pro may not fully address a requirement.

SMS Pro is a comprehensive SMS database tailored for aviation service providers, including airlines, airports, maintenance organizations, flight schools, and more. Its modular design and aviation-specific functionality make it an effective tool for meeting FAA Part 5 audit requirements.

Below, we analyze how SMS Pro aligns with each component of FAA Part 5, supported by its documented features and industry insights.

SMS Pro Professional Conquers MROs New Regulatory Challenges

As Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations face stricter FAA, ICAO, EASA, and Transport Canada regulations in 2025, compliance is no longer optional—it's critical.

Whether you're a small MRO with a single hangar or a large network like Dassault Falcon Jet with 400 employees across multiple sites, SMS Pro offers tailored Safety Management System (SMS) solutions to meet your needs. With our restructured plans—Basic, Professional, and Enterprise—SMS Pro ensures regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and cost savings, regardless of your size or complexity.

Here’s why SMS Pro Professional is the go-to choice for MROs navigating the regulatory landscape.

FAA’s Safety Risk Management (SRM) Process and System Description Element

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety risk management (SRM) compliance requirement for System Description has one clear goal: establish the components of your operating environment’s

• systems,
• processes,
• procedures, and
• important safety elements.