SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Aviation Safety Policy? More Than Just Empty Words...

Safety managers are commonly the invisible authors to many safety policies showcased at aviation service providers worldwide. After all, safety managers are the "supposed" subject-matter experts and the accountable executive is busy doing "accountable executive stuff."

Paperwork Is More Than Tedious

Let’s be real – documentation is really just a fancy word for paperwork (digital or hard copy). It can be extremely tedious.

I’ve never met anyone who looks forward to the documentation required in an aviation safety management system (SMS). That doesn’t change the fact that at every activity of an aviation SMS –

• planning,
• implementation,
• audit reports,

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.

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 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.

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.

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.