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

Why Talk About "Aviation Safety?"

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:

• commercial,
• private, or 
• military operations.

Purpose of Non-Punitive Reporting Policies in Aviation SMS Programs

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.

What Is an Emergency Response Plan

An emergency response plan is a manual that companies use to address many different types of emergencies.

The manuals include:

• Who to contact;
• How to act; and
• Resources to use.

The priorities for any ERP are, in this order:

Plans and Challenges of Implementation

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) implementation takes a long time to fully mature, usually three to five years if you are lucky.

When Should I Review Our SMS Manual?

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 If the information is out of date, employees will lose trust in it.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.

Sell SMS to Top Management

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.

Why Create an Aviation SMS Manual?

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.

Safety Managers Can Only Manage Hazards That Are Reported

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.

Why Review Safety Policy & Objectives in Aviation SMS Programs?

Aviation safety managers share many common traits, including:

• detail oriented;
• hard driven;

Why Safety Management Gets Safety Objectives Wrong

Somewhat surprisingly, in aviation safety management systems (SMS), safety objectives are often quite misunderstood. Experienced safety management may have a slightly misguided understanding of safety objectives.