SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Subpar Aviation SMS Training Courses Are Worthless

Finding quality aviation safety management systems (SMS) training can be tricky.

Like any industry, the aviation industry is rattled with subpar training courses. Generally, these SMS courses are subpar because for consistent reasons. Mainly, this is because new training courses are usually modeled after existing courses from the traditional safety program, which means the new courses inherit the same mistakes in the regurgitated or recycled materials.

What Is Aviation SMS Performance?

Aviation service providers around the world have been devoting considerable resources to implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS). Each of these SMS implementations requires safety performance monitoring and measurement of critical data elements.

Clearly, many elements and risk management activities that makeup SMS' performance. Where does a safety manager start?

Thoughtfully Conduct Bowtie Analysis in Aviation SMS

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) focus strongly on:

• hazard identification,
• risk analysis and assessment;
• development and monitoring of risk controls; and
• continuous improvement of the SMS.

As a means to achieving that end, it’s becoming increasingly clear that bowtie analysis has become a popular risk management tool in aviation SMS.

Aviation Safety Culture Is Not a Concept

As I’ve discussed before, “safety culture” gets thrown around rather loosely in the aviation industry.

"Safety culture" is the kind of thing that is vitally important, but so undernourished in terms of actually discussing what it means and what it looks like, that you sort of roll your eyes and with a wink and a nod say, “Oh yea... safety culture.”

Managers' Challenge to Realize Meaningful Change

The value of any aviation service provider rests on its ability to adapt quickly by making informed and effective decisions. But management's decision-making power is only as strong as its underlying data.

Weak data erodes confidence, creates delays, or worse – it could lead to misguided judgments and fatal accidents.

Alternatively, a robust LOSA data management program provides a foundation for:

• Accountability;
• Transparency,

Learning to Benefit From LOSA Programs

Congratulations! You’ve completed your Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA). You are ready to strategize and reap the benefits of your proactive LOSA strategy.

Now, one of the final steps in the LOSA process is setting up targets for enhancement based on the rich data you’ve collected. Within the LOSA data, you will undoubtedly uncover trends and issues that you were blinded to (which is one of the primary benefits of LOSA). With these identified trends and issues, you will be able to set your safety targets (i.e., targets for improvement).

Email Remains Popular for Aviation Hazard/Safety Reporting

Many aviation safety managers use email to collect hazard and safety reports. Email serves as an extremely convenient vehicle for employees and stakeholders to communicate safety concerns to safety teams. After all, most people today have access to email accounts and many carry a personal device with email capabilities in either their:

• Smart Phone; or
• Tablet.

Executives Are Most Practical but Have Different Visions

Aviation safety managers understand what is required when it comes to managing their aviation safety management systems (SMS). They have read considerable aviation SMS documentation, such as

• ICOA Document 9859 (SMS Guidance Materials);
• FAA SMS Guidance;
• Transport Canada SMS Guidance;
• Australia's CASA SMS Guidance; and perhaps

#3 of the Dirty Dozen Is “Lack of Knowledge”

So, just what is a Lack of Knowledge?

Any competent human factors instructor will tell you that "Lack of knowledge" is when you lack the knowledge to complete a task correctly. Many new employees have what we call a “Lack of Knowledge” or lack of experience.

Let’s face it, in these times of ever-changing technology,

#1 of the Human Factors' Dirty Dozen Is Lack of Communication

So, just what is a Lack of Communication? In the simplest terms, it is a failure to ensure the “mental pictures” match.

For example, I have a mental picture of what I hope to convey to you. If you have the same mental picture at the end of our conversation then proper communication has occurred.

Many times in Aviation and in other areas of our lives we have conversations with each other and we both assume that we understand each other 100%,