SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

What Is Value to Aviation Operations?

Many modern line-level aviation managers maintain an imperfect perception of value relating to cost-effective aviation operations. These immature, untrained value hunters act as if leadership prizes value solely from the bottom-line perspective, no matter where it comes from, or how those dollars magically appear at the bottom of corporate balance sheets.

Your organization's managerial bargain hunters and shrewd negotiators may actually transfer organizational risk to safety as the organization tries to grow and develop its aviation assets. In short, as aviation operations grow, management may attempt to reduce the amount of safety that they enjoyed when they were considerably smaller.

The Brutal Truth About Your Aviation SMS Implementation

If you cannot handle emotional pain or controversy today, please don't read this. I certainly don't mean to offend, but I have to say this:

Most aviation service providers are lying regarding their aviation SMS implementations.

What? We just spent tens of thousands of dollars on aviation safety management system (SMS) implementation consultants and we don't have an SMS implementation?

What You Need to Know about Aviation SMS Implementation Plans

If you are reading this, chances are you have just begun implementing your aviation safety management systems (SMS). Or, you would like to see how your implementation plan stacks up against the suggested process for creating an implementation plan.

Either way, the important things you need to know about aviation SMS implementation plans are that they:

• Organize all elements of SMS;
• Provide you with a road map of implementation-order;

The Glamour of Aviation SMS Consulting

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) are viewed as complex systems comprised of multiple, interdependent subsystems. These subsystems include, but are not limited to:

• Safety reporting system;
• Risk management system;
• SMS training management system;
• Safety communication system(s); and
• Safety performance monitoring systems.

Benefits of Aviation SMS for Flight Schools

Flight schools operate with many risky hazards every day.

Students are inexperienced, usually younger, and are new to technology and the hazards of flying.

Moreover, the pressure that students undergoing flight training feel to perform well naturally makes them less prepared to identify hazards early on.

Of course, while flight schools need to prepare highly successful pilots, maintenance workers, air traffic controllers, etc., the FAA’s new compliance policy that airlines have a safety management system in place is a testament to the fact that safety performance is an integral part of overall performance.

Characteristics of a Sustainable SMS Implementation

Sustainability is a modern buzz word, and aviation safety management systems (SMS) are no exception. Sustainable SMS implementations are those that survive

• upper management personnel changes,
• safety manager changes, and
• high volume of employee turnover.

The question every safety manager and/or upper manager needs to ask is, does my SMS implementation achieve these sustainable goals?

Bringing Life to a System

It’s easy to get lost in the bureaucracy side of aviation safety management systems (SMS):

• Policies and procedures;
• Safety accountabilities;
• SMS training;
• Risk management processes;
• Management of change;
• SMS documentation requirements;

Idle Time Doesn’t Have to Be Dreaded

Aviation safety managers are hardworking professionals, and their daily work schedules can be hectic, challenging, and extremely busy. But for many safety officers – and I’m guessing you may be one of them – there may be times when things become pretty quiet on the "SMS front", as if everything is under control...finally. And a big sigh of relief comes.

Then you suddenly find yourself rubbing your hands together, wondering how to best spend your time. What can I do to add value to our aviation safety management system (SMS)?

Why Small Operators Need Safety Management Systems

Aviation safety management systems (SMS) are not just for large airlines and airports with high traffic volumes.

Small aviation service providers are in just as much need of implementing formal aviation SMS as are larger operations. All operators use the same SMS implementation guidelines as larger operators; however, they are not evaluated equally, as larger operators logically fall under higher regulator scrutiny than smaller operators, as the volume of their business implies greater risk.

Four Pillars of Safety Management Systems (SMS)

In 2006, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) required safety management system (SMS) implementation for most commercial aviation service providers. The list of required service providers has been expanded in recent years to include:

• Aircraft operators;
• Aircraft maintenance organizations (AMOs or MROs);
• Air navigation services providers;
• Helicopter operators;