SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports

Importance of Keywords in Aviation SMS

Keywords in Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) are the most important words that new or experienced aviation safety professionals need to know. Usage of the correct terminology in the aviation industry is important for stakeholders to understand particular contexts in which safety events may occur and also any nuances that may cloud definitions due to regional differences or the introduction of unfamiliar technology.

SMS keywords are not just for safety personnel, but rather for all people who interact with the SMS' risk management system, including:

1^st Step to Improve Aviation SMS Training

Improving aviation safety management systems (SMS) training effectiveness is as much about understanding what it is as what it is not.

Misconceptions about aviation SMS training can have wide-ranging negative effects on SMS implementation. This becomes increasingly disturbing when one considers how poor SMS training can destroy a safety culture, which is among the most single important element of every aviation SMS

For example, safety managers who do not understand the best uses for aviation safety training cause:

Recurrent SMS Training Expenses Outweigh Benefits?

Aviation service providers investing in aviation safety management systems (SMS) can expect to reduce

• fatalities,
• injuries, and
• illnesses.

These reductions save providers in a variety of ways, such as

• lower insurance costs;

Common Confusion Regarding Aviation SMS Training

Since November 2006, ICAO has mandated that aviation service providers implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS). Among multiple operators that we have worked with, there has been confusion about:

• Who should participate in the aviation SMS;
• Who should receive SMS training;
• When must this training be delivered to employees;
• What topics must be covered in the SMS training;

What Initial SMS Training Is, and How It’s Different

Since November 2006, most aviation service providers have been required to implement formal aviation safety management systems (SMS). In order to assure compliance, aviation SMS oversight is provided by:

• Regional civil aviation authorities;
• Standards setting bodies (IATA, IS-BAO, Flight Safety Foundation, etc.); and
• Customers requiring SMS implementations from their vendors.

What Are You Looking for When Performing Risk Analysis

During the risk management process in an aviation safety management system (SMS), one of the expected tasks is to analyze the risk of hazards associated with

• reported safety issues;
• audit findings; and
• proposed operational changes.

When you perform risk analysis on whatever type of a safety issue in aviation SMS, your goal is to understand how and why the underlying issue affects risk exposure in your organization.

Benefits of Automated SMS Training for Initial and Recurrent Training Requirements

During the implementation of formal aviation safety management systems (SMS), service providers are expected to develop and deliver SMS training to employees in every implementation phase except the first phase. For example:

• Phase II: Deliver training relevant to reactive risk management processes;
• Phase III: Deliver training relevant to reactive risk management processes; and
• Phase IV: Develop training relevant to operational safety assurance.

Recognizing Good Aviation Risk Management Training Is Crucial

Having good aviation risk management training is perhaps one of the most important ways to improve safety in your organization.

Good training is not inexpensive, as it takes you and/or your employees away from regular duties. In other words, management doesn't want to waste time and money on items that have no direct and immediate relation to the bottom line. They expect to see results from their investment.

Simply put, bad training is a risk that needs to be accounted for.

What Defines Aviation Safety Training

Aviation safety training and education is an essential building block to develop performant safety cultures. This should be among the first elements to scrutinize whenever employees are involved in safety accidents or incidents.

Safety training and education falls under the Safety Promotion component in the 4 Pillars of Aviation SMS. Safety training can make or break the successful performance of an SMS program for:

What Is a Hazard

A hazard in aviation risk management is a condition that poses danger to your organization, and can lead to safety incidents if not mitigated. Hazards are central to the entire risk management process. Often, hazards are either confused with risks (i.e., accidents) and hazardous sources. We will explore what hazardous sources are and how they differ from hazards in this article.

First, let’s distinguish what a hazard is. A hazard is a term that satisfies ALL the following real-life conditions: