What is LOSA?

LOSA is Proactive Risk Management

A Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) is a proactive, non-punitive safety management tool used in aviation to collect data on operational performance during normal operations. Unlike traditional audits that focus on compliance, LOSA involves trained observers—often peers like pilots or flight attendants—who monitor routine flights from the jump seat to record crew behavior, decision-making, and the management of threats and errors. It is built around the Threat and Error Management (TEM) framework, which identifies threats (external risks like weather), errors (human mistakes), and undesired states (unsafe conditions) to enhance safety.

Key Characteristics of LOSA:

• Peer-to-Peer Observations: Conducted by trained frontline personnel, not external auditors, to minimize disruption and build trust.
• Non-Punitive: Data is anonymous and confidential, ensuring crews aren’t penalized for observed errors.
• Normal Operations: Focuses on routine flights to capture real-world practices, not simulated or high-risk scenarios.
• Data-Driven: Provides a diagnostic snapshot of operational strengths and weaknesses, informing safety improvements.

Example: A LOSA observer might note how a flight crew handles a late gate change (a threat) and whether they verify procedures correctly (error management), offering insights into training needs.

Relevance to Aviation Safety and SMS

LOSA is a critical component of a mature Safety Management System (SMS), as it supports safety assurance and safety promotion—two of the four SMS pillars discussed in your blog article. By identifying systemic risks and best practices, LOSA helps organizations:

• Proactively Address Hazards: Data highlights at-risk behaviors before they lead to incidents.
• Enhance Training: Insights inform Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Evidence-Based Training (EBT) programs.
• Strengthen Safety Culture: Non-punitive data collection fosters trust and open reporting.

For example, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) endorsed LOSA in 1999 as a primary tool for managing human error, and it’s now a recommended practice in IATA Operational Safety Audits (IOSA). A mature SMS, as discussed in your article, relies on tools like LOSA to move from reactive compliance to proactive risk management. To learn how leadership drives such initiatives, visit List Duties of Accountable Executive in Aviation SMS on SMS-Pro's website.

Connection to ASMS-Pro Resources

LOSA data collection and analysis can be streamlined with modern tools, as outlined in Advantages of Cloud-Based Databases for Aviation SMS. Cloud-based systems enable secure storage and real-time analysis of LOSA observations, enhancing SMS maturity. Additionally, communicating LOSA findings to employees is vital for safety promotion. 

Why LOSA Matters for Safety Professionals

For aviation professionals, safety officers, or students visiting SMS-Pro, LOSA is a practical tool to elevate safety performance. It provides actionable insights that align with your blog’s focus on SMS maturity, helping organizations like airlines or helicopter operators (per your interest in DNN 9.13 for ASMS-Pro) assess and improve their safety margins. Unlike reactive systems like the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), LOSA predicts risks proactively, making it a cornerstone of advanced safety management.

Want to learn more? We have mobile friendly tools to conduct LOSA observations.