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

What Is Proactive Risk Management

Proactive risk management is often esteemed as the “best” type of risk management. This is because proactive risk management usually matures later in SMS implementation. Also, it involves identifying and stopping issues before they occur.

Despite this, it’s important to understand that proactive risk management is not “better” than reactive or predictive risk management, it is just one necessary strategy for managing risk.

The primary goals of proactive risk management are:

• Identify behaviors that lead to hazard occurrence, and stop it before it happens;
• Identify root causes before they lead to hazard occurrence; and
• Understand the safety “inputs” of your program – i.e., underlying causes that lead to safety performance.

What Are Risk Statements in Aviation SMS Risk Management?

Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) are the backbone of modern aviation safety, providing a structured approach to

• identifying hazards,
• assessing risks, and
• implementing controls to ensure safe operations.

At the heart of an effective SMS lies the ability to communicate potential safety risks clearly and concisely through risk statements. These statements are essential tools for aviation safety managers, enabling them to convey critical safety information to stakeholders, prioritize mitigation efforts, and foster a proactive safety culture.

Frequent Requests for Aviation Safety Manager Advice

We often receive questions from aviation professionals who are interested in pursuing a career as a Safety Manager.

This article should help to answer some of the most common questions.

High-quality career advice from practicing safety professionals can help you:

• Make better decisions;
• Advance your career; and

ICAO Requirements for Training and Education

ICAO’s requirements for training and education are largely focused on ensuring that you train and document all employees in your organization on core SMS and safety information. It is specific in its guidance documentation that role-based training is important.

What Is an Aviation Safety Management System

Aviation safety management systems are formal, structured methodologies for managing aviation safety programs. ICAO mandated that most aviation service providers implement SMS programs in 2006.

There are guidelines as to aviation SMS requirements that most SMS professionals are familiar with,

The Frustration of Monumental Tasks of SMS Implementation

Many aviation safety managers happen upon the task of "safety manager" by chance. The previous safety manager may have:

I Don't Need an Aviation SMS Database... or Do I?

Many aviation service providers today are researching features and capabilities to acquire databases to address documentation requirements of their aviation safety management system (SMS). Alternatively, these operators are not looking to acquire an SMS database, but to:

Purpose of Risk Analysis

In aviation SMS, you analyze risk to break an issue down into individual, controllable parts. Based on your analysis, you can assess the safety issue, and understand both what actions need to be taken, and what safety factors need to be better controlled.

Knowing Who Is Involved in Your Aviation SMS

For every aviation safety management system (SMS), the accountable executive must ensure the SMS is properly implemented and performing in all areas of the organization.

Environment Always Changes

Change is an inevitable and constant reality in the aviation industry. A lack of change is tantamount to a lack of growth in an economy.

Likewise, if your aviation safety management system (SMS) is not changing, it’s not improving. "Continuous improvement of the SMS" is the third element of the "Safety Assurance" pillar of ICAO-compliant SMS.