The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has updated the Safety Management System (SMS) requirements for Part 121 operators under 14 CFR Part 5, as outlined in the April 2024 final rulemaking.
These updates introduce specific requirements aimed at enhancing safety through improved
Topics: 4-Safety Promotion, 3-Safety Assurance, 1-Safety Policy, 2-Safety Risk Management
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 5 regulations mandate a structured Safety Management System (SMS) for certificate holders, including
Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, Aviation SMS Database, 4-Safety Promotion, 3-Safety Assurance, 1-Safety Policy, 2-Safety Risk Management
The United States' National Airspace System (NAS) handled between 54 million and 56 million takeoffs and landings in calendar year 2024 (January 1 to December 31). Handling such air traffic volume safely is in the interest of everyone, even for those who do not fly.
Aviation safety refers to measures, practices, and systems designed to minimize risks and prevent harm in air travel and aircraft operations. Aviation safety considers all types of flights, including:
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
Dedicated, hard-working safety managers drive the setup of airline and airports' aviation safety management systems (SMS).
These safety managers are often left to decipher ambiguous requirements that are open to multiple interpretations. This comes into play, especially when upper management wants to "pencil-whip" an aviation SMS and merely check the boxes.
Topics: Aviation SMS Implementation, 1-Safety Policy, 2-Safety Risk Management
An emergency response plan is a manual that companies use to address many different types of emergencies.
The manuals include:
The priorities for any ERP are, in this order:
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
Aviation safety management systems (SMS) implementation takes a long time to fully mature, usually three to five years if you are lucky.
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
It's very important to review SMS Manuals.
The most common audit finding is that the operator is not conducting operations as stated in their SMS manual.
Furthermore, your manual is only as useful as the information it contains. If the information is out of date, employees will lose trust in it. This undermines the safety culture you've worked to build.
Review your manual at regular intervals. Annual reviews are best practice, but some operators go as long as 3 years between reviews.
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
Securing top management support is critical for a successful aviation Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring compliance with FAA Part 5 and ICAO Annex 19 while enhancing safety for airlines, airports, MROs, and flight schools. These four actionable tips, leveraging SMS Pro tools, help safety managers pitch SMS effectively, overcoming resistance and driving organizational buy-in, as discussed in our management support guide.
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
In aviation, where safety is paramount, a Safety Management System (SMS) is the foundation for managing risks and ensuring operational excellence.
At the core of any SMS lies the SMS manual—a critical document that outlines an organization’s safety policies, procedures, and processes. For aviation safety managers, crafting a comprehensive SMS manual is essential for meeting regulatory requirements, passing audits, and fostering a culture where safety is everyone’s priority.
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
Healthy aviation safety management systems (SMS) rely upon hazard reporting to reduce operational risk. High-performing safety reporting cultures receive approximately one report for every ten employees each month.
Topics: 1-Safety Policy
These two on-demand videos offer:
