SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

What Is Fatigue Risk Management

Fatigue is one of the most important factors in overall operational safety. It’s so important that most aviation safety management systems adopt additional and specific measures to combat fatigue. Fatigue risk management includes:

• Fatigue monitoring;
• Fatigue controls;
• Fatigue data gathering; and

Aviation SMS Implementations Have Risk!

Imagine you are the pilot recently assigned the "extra" task of being the safety manager of an existing aviation safety management system (SMS).

Or perhaps you are the safety manager who has worked hard for years and your SMS is running very smoothly. Now what?

Every aviation SMS implementation has a risk, just as any other project at your company.

When safety managers identify risk early, there is a higher chance that the aviation SMS implementation will succeed.

What Is an Aviation Safety Management System

Aviation safety management systems are formal, structured methodologies for managing aviation safety programs. ICAO mandated that most aviation service providers implement SMS programs in 2006.

There are guidelines as to aviation SMS requirements that most SMS professionals are familiar with, notably Document 9859. Doc 9859 nicely outlines what is an SMS program and breaks out the requirements into pillars, most commonly called the four pillars.

The Frustration of Monumental Tasks of SMS Implementation

Many aviation safety managers happen upon the task of "safety manager" by chance. The previous safety manager may have:

• Quit the company;
• Been promoted to another position; or
• Been replaced due to poor performance.

Regardless, new safety managers have a very tough task. Most aviation service providers only have the budget for one safety manager; therefore, when one suddenly leaves the company, a huge vacuum exists.

What Is an SMS Risk Control Process?

A risk control process for an aviation safety management system (SMS) entails a series of risk management tasks that are executed whenever:

• Hazards are identified;
• An event has occurred (accident, incident, irregularity); or
• An audit finding is uncovered (internal as well as external audits).

Safety Manager Communicates With Upper Management

Aviation safety managers are faced with particular challenges stemming from:

• Acquiring top management support for aviation safety management system (SMS); and
• Maintaining top management support for the safety department.

What Are Roles in Aviation Safety Management Systems

Aviation SMS roles are used to organize different responsibilities in your aviation safety program. Each role in your SMS will have separate responsibilities. SMS roles are assigned to each of your employees.

You should develop roles at the very beginning of starting an SMS. Roles provide significant benefits by helping you:

What Are Roles in Aviation Safety Management Systems

Roles in aviation SMS are used to categorize different responsibilities of employees in your safety program. Each role in your SMS will be responsible for different areas of your SMS, including different duties to fulfill those responsibilities. SMS roles are assigned to each of your employees.

Time Passes Quickly in the Aviation Safety Industry

Over a dozen years have passed since the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) required aviation safety management system (SMS) implementation by the following aviation service providers:

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

Aviation Safety Managers Battling Organizational Silos

Effective aviation safety management systems (SMS) are implemented throughout an entire organization, and not merely for flight ops and airside operations.

Unfortunately, there is a major problem with many safety cultures in the aviation industry. Safety is managed at the department level or the division level of many inefficient aviation companies.