SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Aviation Safety Audits 101: Prep and Pass - With Examples and Checklists

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jun 12, 2024 5:45:00 AM

High Stakes

Passing aviation safety audits is absolutely critical for safety managers, not to mention the accountable executive who is ultimately responsible for aviation safety management systems (SMS) performance.

Their jobs may depend on satisfactorily managing both:

  • The aviation safety audit; and
  • Followup and tracking of corrective actions resulting from the findings.
Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

Despite Corruption, IATA Operational Safety Audits Enhance Aviation SMS

Posted by Christopher Howell on May 29, 2024 6:00:00 AM

Aviation Safety Audits Are Not for Just Airlines

Aviation safety managers must be prepared for a never-ending chain of audits. This is a fact of life, whether you are working at:

  • Airlines;
  • Airports;
  • Ground handling companies;
  • Flight schools; or
  • Aviation maintenance organizations.
Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

How to Create an Aviation SMS Audit Plan

Posted by Tyler Britton on Apr 10, 2024 6:30:00 AM

What Is an Internal Aviation SMS Audit

An internal aviation safety management system (SMS) audit is a process you used to verify that certain actions are taking place in your SMS.

Audits are a safety assurance activity that is most commonly used to broadly assess whether or not aviation service providers can demonstrate continuous improvement of the SMS.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

How Often Should You Conduct Aviation SMS Audit

Posted by Tyler Britton on Mar 27, 2024 2:30:00 AM

What Is an Internal Aviation SMS Audit

An internal aviation SMS audit is how you evaluate any part of your SMS.

On the one hand, you use such audits to ensure that certain actions are taking place in your SMS, such as SRM operations or continuous improvement.

Safety programs with good audit processes have multiple processes. Each audit process will audit a different aspect of your aviation safety program, such as:

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

4 Tips for Passing Aviation SMS Audits - with Free Resources

Posted by Christopher Howell on Feb 28, 2024 6:30:00 AM

Why Passing an Aviation SMS Audit Is Critical

Over the past dozen years, an aviation SMS audit has become a necessary and commonly difficult task for:

  • Airlines;
  • Airports;
  • Aviation maintenance organizations;
  • ATC; and
  • Flight schools.
Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

Real Difference between an Aviation Safety Audit vs. Inspection

Posted by Tyler Britton on Feb 21, 2024 6:00:00 AM

Interesting Discussion on Audits vs. Inspections

The other day, I had a rather interesting discussion with a couple of seasoned aviation safety managers on the topic of aviation safety audits vs inspections.

It took a while to come to a consensus about the primary differences, as well as the ideological implications of each. The discussion got me thinking, and I did some further research.

More than simply understanding the practical difference between the two, it's important to understand the ideological differences between safety audits and safety inspections as well.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

How to Monitor the Effectiveness of Control Measures

Posted by Tyler Britton on Jan 17, 2024 10:59:00 AM

Why You Need to Monitor the Effectiveness of Control Measures

Control measures are the heart of your aviation safety management system’s (SMS) risk mitigation efforts. You may call your "control measures" either:

  • Risk controls; or
  • Simply "controls."

In this article, we'll use the term "control measures," but I am sure many of you call them "risk controls." Either term is permissible; however, I'm detecting a global preference in the aviation industry for the term "risk control."

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

How to Implement Effective Control Measures

Posted by Aviation Safety Student on Dec 6, 2023 5:21:00 AM

What Are Control Measures?

When you identify a hazard within your organization, the first step is to analyze the risk. If the risk is high, then you need a control measure to reduce risk to acceptable levels.

Any change made to the existing system to reduce risk is a control measure.

Control measures can be simple or complex. Using a less hazardous chemical might be a simple control. Designing and installing a new ventilation system would be more complicated.

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

What Is a Hazard in Safety Management Systems

Posted by Tyler Britton on Nov 29, 2023 5:45:00 AM

Why Definition of a Hazard Matters

Accuracy is extremely important.

Much of the bureaucracy of safety management systems depend on correct and specific understanding of safety concepts. Misunderstanding definitions in SMS is synonymous with misunderstanding what a safety element is and can compromise how that safety element is:

  • Controlled;
  • Documented; and
  • Accounted for.
Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

SRM-SA Aviation SMS Audit Preparation - 4 Free Checklist Templates

Posted by Christopher Howell on Oct 25, 2023 4:26:00 AM

The SMS Auditors Are Coming!

Aviation SMS audits are necessary to ensure aviation service providers comply with established guidelines. These established guidelines may come from:

Read More

Topics: 3-Safety Assurance

Site content provided by Northwest Data Solutions is meant for informational purposes only. Opinions presented here are not provided by any civil aviation authority or standards body.

 

 

Benefits of SMS Pro Database

Affordable, Basic Compliance for Small Aviation Service Providers

Best Practices for Aviation SMS

 

Watch SMS Pro Demo Videos

These two on-demand videos offer:

  • High-level overview of SMS Pro;
  • Hazard Reporting & Risk Management walk-through.
Watch SMS Pro Demo Videos
 
 
 
 

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts