SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Safety Reporting Remains Core to Aviation SMS

Participants of healthy aviation safety management systems (SMS) enjoy trusting relationships between management and staff. The goal for organizational success without sacrificing safety and employee welfare is actively promoted and accepted by all.

A systemic problem exists in our aviation industry in that an alarming number of aviation service providers have substandard corporate safety cultures.

What Is Cybersecurity

The aviation industry relies heavily on computers for every touchpoint of aviation service, from ground to flight operations. Cybersecurity is a term that refers to the safety of such computer systems – it is also called info-security. If nefarious individuals were able to get access to some of your computer systems, they could pose a catastrophic threat to flight operations.

Aviation Safety Policies Require Review, Didn't You Know?

Safety managers are busy people. After all, they are constantly ensuring SMS documentation requirements are appropriately managed for all four pillars of the aviation safety management system (SMS).

It's easy to let something slip by if there are no mechanisms in place for quality assurance for your aviation SMS.

What does it mean to review the aviation SMS' safety policy?

How is this done?

What Are Roles in Aviation Safety Management Systems

Roles in aviation SMS are used to categorize different responsibilities of employees in your safety program. Each role in your SMS will be responsible for different areas of your SMS, including different duties to fulfill those responsibilities. SMS roles are assigned to each of your employees.

What Is a Management System

The idea of a safety management system (SMS) is something those of us in the aviation risk management industry use as if an SMS were one solid “thing.” But a safety management system is actually made up of multiple ideas, packaged into a single, functioning effort for better aviation safety.

These different ideas are found in its name:

• Aviation;
• Safety;
• Management; and

Aviation Safety Reporting Cultures Are Suffering

Most safety managers don't have the luxury of a healthy safety reporting culture in their aviation safety management system (SMS). Managers daily struggle to boost their monthly safety reporting metrics by up to 10% of employees, or one report per month for every 10 employees.

In 1976, NASA and the FAA recognized that a neutrally-operated confidential aviation hazard reporting system was required to engender trust among the aviation community.

What Is Formally Documenting in Aviation SMS

Formally documenting your SMS means creating an “official” record of your SMS. Official records are simply aspects of your SMS that you document and save to use later, such as during review or provide to an auditor. Aspects of your SMS that you formally document will fall into two categories:

1. SMS design, which is encompassed in your:
   1. Operational Risk Profile/Hazard Register, which is a manual/document where you list the hazards, risks, and controls pertinent to your operations; and

Power of Safety Goals on Shaping Aviation Safety Culture

Goal-setting is required for every ICAO-compliant aviation SMS program. The objective of goal setting is to

• Improve an operator's safety performance;
• Shape organizational safety culture, which
• Contributes to the bottom line.

There is not a defined method to guide safety managers in goal setting. Every safety manager has their preferred strategies for goal setting.

Pros and Cons of Technology in Aviation

Technology for a lot of organizations is a key asset, as it is seen as an advantage in the competitive environment; however, from a safety point of view technology is not only an advantage, it also bears possible negative aspects.

In a world where technology is more and more important, people make use of it in more and more aspects of daily life. Nowadays, a lot of tasks are accomplished with the aid of technology or are even done entirely by technology.

Safety Managers Get Into Trouble Due to Verbal Skills

Aviation safety managers are among the most articulate group of all aviation professionals. I don't have all the answers to why this group is so:

• Detailed;
• Verbally adept with writing; and
• Equally skilled at speaking.

Perhaps this is due to the similarity between truck drivers and pilots. Of course, I'm smiling as I write this, but have you ever noticed how both pilots and truck drivers have the gift of gab?