Aviation SMS

Globally, air traffic is expected to double in the next 15 years. The aviation industry has identified Safety Management Systems (SMS) as the most effective process to ensure accident rates do not increase in correlation with the expected increase in air traffic.

Under the endorsement of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Civil Aviation Authorities around the world have or are in the process of promulgating regulations to ensure that all of their aviation organizations adopt this management system.

Private organizations at all levels are supporting this effort by providing its membership with guidance, training and information sessions to facilitate the transition.

Our Team has worked with many of these regulators, private organizations and operators directly to assist them with the development, implementation, assessment and training requirements of SMS. Our experience includes:

For Regulatory Authorities

• Supporting Civil Aviation Authorities with the development of SMS regulatory structures and subsequent SMS regulations consistent with the framework of the State Safety Oversight Program from ICAO.
• Development of guidance material for industry.
• Development of assessment protocols for Civil Aviation Authorities to support transition of Inspectors from prescriptive to performance based regulation.
• Inspectors training in SMS assessment techniques.

For Industry Operators

• Performed gap analysis and developed implementation plans for large and small airport operators, airlines, air navigation service providers and others.
• Development of SMS processes and SMS Manuals.
• Development of tools to support SMS implementation and management.
• Provision of SMS training at all levels of an organization from executives to third party staff.
• Advanced training on SMS management that includes risk management, assessment and audit, investigation techniques and performance indicators development and selection.
• Supported organizations with compliance submissions on their phased-in approach implementation.

For Industry Organizations

• Development and delivery of training and workshops for its membership.
• Meeting and workshop facilitation for the development and implementation of SMS.