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

Executive Summary

As a Canadian Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organization with 100 employees, serving both Canadian and U.S. customers, we operate in a highly regulated aviation industry where safety is paramount. Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandate Safety Management Systems (SMS) for MROs to ensure compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, as outlined in Annex 19.

To meet these requirements efficiently, enhance safety performance, and strengthen our competitive position, we propose adopting SMS Pro, a web-based aviation SMS software designed for MROs. This business case evaluates the benefits, costs, and implementation strategy for SMS Pro, demonstrating its alignment with regulatory needs and business objectives.

SMS Pro Ensures FAA Part 5 Compliance

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 5 regulations mandate a structured Safety Management System (SMS) for certificate holders, including

• Part 121,
• Part 135,
• Part 91.
• 147 air tour operators, and
• certain Part 21 manufacturers.

What Is the Hazard Reporting Process

Simply put, the hazard reporting process is the primary mode of data acquisition in aviation safety management systems (SMS). Being such, a poor hazard reporting process can literally break your SMS. If that sounds unrealistic, it’s not.

What Are the Safety Management System Databases?

In early 2007, when we started designing and developing SMS Pro, I was mildly surprised that many aviation safety managers called a Web application to manage aviation safety events a "safety management system" (SMS) database.

Aviation SMS Implementations Follow Forked Path

Since November 2006, operators inadvertently followed a forked path while implementing required aviation safety management systems (SMS). In some cases, they made conscious choices, but in most cases, the path they chose was forced upon them due to imperfect information.

I prefer to believe that most who started the SMS journey had hoped that they would succeed and reap the expected rewards while simultaneously improving global transportation system safety.

Aviation Safety Management Is Business!

For most operators implementing regulatory compliant aviation safety management systems (SMS), their primary business goal was obviously regulatory compliance. Otherwise, thousands of aviation service providers would have initiated aviation SMS before ICAO's November 2006 mandate.

The Importance of Data in Aviation SMS

Highly functioning aviation safety management systems (SMS) always have effective data acquisition and risk management practices. This is not the case for most nascent SMS implementations.

What Is Data Mining in Aviation SMS?

Data mining is a critical, intermittent risk management activity safety managers need to perform in their aviation safety management systems (SMS) to organize, understand, and process collected safety data acquired during the organization risk management processes.

Which Aviation Safety Database Should We Choose?

Aviation safety managers become apprehensive at certain points in their careers. We see this frequently when:

• They are deciding to purchase an aviation safety database solution; or
• They are setting up a new safety database for their SMS program; or
• They are assigned to manage an existing aviation SMS database program.

I Don't Need an Aviation SMS Database... or Do I?

Many aviation service providers today are researching features and capabilities to acquire databases to address documentation requirements of their aviation safety management system (SMS). Alternatively, these operators are not looking to acquire an SMS database, but to: