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

Apathy: The SMS Killer

Apathy is the bane of any aviation safety management system (SMS).

Apathy is the most insidious kind of resistance any aviation safety manager will face. It can take many forms, such as:

Common Dilemma About Aviation Safety Budgets

We have heard it time and again. Upper management has allocated insufficient funds for the safety department. This is a universal challenge for all aviation safety managers.

"Do more with less" seems to be a worn-out phrase that safety departments continue to hear.

What Is Safety Culture?

Safety culture is a set of values that a company has in relation to safety and is one of the main characteristics that distinguish one company from other companies.

Some industrial sectors, such as aviation, require a level of safety culture which is higher than in other sectors.

What Is the Iceberg of Ignorance

The Iceberg of Ignorance was first developed in 1989 by a consultant named Sidney Yoshida. The Iceberg of Ignorance is a model that addressed concerns about safety awareness in large organizations. This model contends that of all problems:

Organize Data for Good Data Analysis

Effective data organization is the cornerstone of robust aviation Safety Management System (SMS) data analysis, enabling airlines, airports, MROs, and flight schools to ensure compliance with FAA Part 5 and ICAO Annex 19 while identifying risks.

What Are Root Causes?

We generally understand a root cause as being the underlying heart of why a particular issue happens.

When aviation safety teams are reviewing, classifying, and investigating issues with root cause analysis, they are tasked with following the chain of “why” questions until they can reasonably assess why a safety issue occurred.

In the high-stakes world of aviation, safety is the cornerstone of every operation. From commercial airlines to general aviation, ensuring the well-being of passengers, crew, and aircraft is a non-negotiable priority.

At the heart of this mission are aviation safety managers, professionals tasked with preventing accidents, ensuring compliance with stringent regulations, and fostering a culture of safety. Their role is not merely a job but a profound commitment to safeguarding lives and upholding the integrity of the aviation industry.

What Is A Hazard Reporting System

A hazard reporting system encompasses the processes and resources your employees will use to report concerns.

The implication here is that your hazard reporting system is the primary means by which you will acquire feedback from operations (acquire data) and improve your SMS.

A hazard reporting system is a core part of driving your:

Perpetual Improvement in Aviation SMS

I was recently talking to a friend about the less spectacular points of his job as an aviation safety manager.

We talked about this and that – the various hurdles every aviation safety manager has to jump over every day.

What Is a Gap Analysis?

As I researched SMS and what it means and how to implement one, the gap analysis kept coming up as something I needed more information on.

At first it seemed intimidating, but it's exactly what it sounds like; a tool to identify:

• What already exists
• What’s missing