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

What Is Risk Tolerance

Risk tolerance is simply how much risk you are willing to accept in a given activity, task, situation, etc.

High-risk tolerance is not good.

All Aviation Safety Managers Need Tips Using Hazard Registers

A hazard register is a common requirement that aviation regulatory authorities review when they audit a Phase 3 or Phase 4 aviation safety management system (SMS).

What Is Too Much to Handle

We talk with aviation safety professionals and business executives every day about their struggles with implementing and managing an SMS.

Inevitably, all aviation safety programs will reach a point of growth where it is getting too much to handle.

What Is Safety Culture in Aviation SMS

Aviation safety cultures are the attitudes, behaviors, and actions that drive safety performance in your SMS.

Safety culture includes how management supports safety, and what front-line employees do when no one is watching.

What Does It Mean to Practice Due Diligence

Two general aspects of safety management systems encompass due diligence of the entire SMS: SMS design and actual safety operations.

Practicing due diligence means ensuring that the design closely matches reality.

Introduction: The Role of Risk Management in Aviation SMS

Aviation risk management tools are essential for managing exposure within Safety Management Systems (SMS), ensuring safety aligns with operational demands. The Federal Aviation Administration reports that 70% of incidents stem from unaddressed risks, costing the industry $1.2 billion annually, per IATA.

Beyond risk analysis, these tools must address all four SMS pillars—Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management (SRM), Safety Assurance (SA), and Safety Promotion—to maintain an Acceptable Level of Safety (ALoS) under ICAO Annex 19 and FAA Part 5. SMS Pro’s aviation SMS software delivers comprehensive risk management with 78 modules, including offline auditing, automated workflows, and visual analytics.

Optimize Ability to Monitor, Manage, and Document

Becoming a better safety manager involves looking at how you are currently managing your SMS, and seeing where you can optimize your ability to:

• Manage risk exposure, such as reported safety issues, audits, reviewing control measures, etc.;
• Document your SMS design and actions taken to mitigate exposure;

What Is Phase 4 of Aviation SMS Implementation

Phase 4 of SMS implementation is all about following through on designing your SMS, and moving forward with actually using the created resources and monitoring your SMS. For example, in Phase 3 of SMS implementation you are required to create KPIs, and in Phase 4 you are required to monitor them.

What Is Phase 3 of Aviation SMS Implementation

Phase 3 of Aviation SMS implementation is largely about implementing your Safety Risk Management process. Your SRM process is where you document and design your safety management system. Designing your SMS is a two-step process:

What Is the Human Factor Complacency (Two Types of Complacency)

Human Factor Complacency is one of the most important Human Factors in aviation safety that you need to be aware of.

Complacency can happen when you are feeling satisfied with your level of safety, and it can happen when you are apathetic to your own safety level.