SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

What Is Just Culture in Aviation SMS Programs

In layman's terms, Just Culture in aviation SMS programs is an organization’s commitment to focusing on learning and improving in the light of unsafe acts, as opposed to blaming and punishing.

In many ways, just culture is a commitment that is as much documentation and policy as it is actions on the part of management.

Human Factors Central Theme in Aviation Safety

As the aviation industry continues to grow, a concentrated effort on safety needs to expand into all realms of aviation, especially regarding hazard identification, as well as risk assessment and mitigation, related to human error.

In aviation, there will always be uncontrolled variables. This remains true because we operate in an open system, exposed to many variables outside the direct control of the operator.

Recurrent SMS Training Can Be Expensive

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) require both initial and recurrent SMS training for all employees. Safety professionals recognize this requirement once they reach Phase 2 of the SMS implementation.

For small companies with 20 to 100 employees, it is not feasible to send all employees to aviation SMS training courses. Nor is it feasible to regularly hire an SMS consultant to deliver training to all employees. Not only do you have costs relating to consultants' time and expenses, but also lost revenue due to employees not performing billable services.

A Culture of Respect

In order to understand the idea of safety culture within the aviation industry, we must first understand the respect attributed to:

• Pilots;
• Mechanics;
• Controllers;
• Dispatchers; and
• All others needed to make the system function.

Aviation SMS Encourage Safe Behavior

The FAA's requirement of many aviation service providers to create a formal aviation Safety Management System (SMS) stretches far beyond the realm of immediate safety concerns.

FAA not only recognized the value of an SMS to help keep aviation service providers safe on an ongoing basis, but to also pave the way for future improvements that can shape aviation in the long run.

SMS are designed to proactively encourage safe behavior throughout an organization.

Starting With Safety Culture From the Beginning

Safety culture in the aviation industry has many forms.

For me, however, I know it as one very rigid form.

Being an Aircrew Flight Equipment Specialist in the Air Force, there can be no mistakes. For me, indoctrination in safety culture started in technical school with the cadre constantly reminding us that our job will save the lives of the pilots and aircrew under our charge.