It seems like aircraft incidents have become more frequent, whether it’s a crash or disappearance. This should catch the attention of aircraft facilities and manufacturers.

Designing and maintaining safety standards is more critical than ever, especially as flying becomes increasingly popular. Combating failures and risks requires a safety management system (SMS). What are they, and how can the industry implement one?

What is a Safety Management System (SMS)?

SMSs are documents aircraft operators reference to avoid safety incidents and stay on top of maintenance tasks. An SMS is a plan required by several organizations and encouraged by others, including:

• Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

These agencies reference historical incidents to inform their recommendations. They discover prominent and modern risks and guide how to minimize them in operations.

Certifications and designations determine maintenance frequency. For example, commercial airlines are labeled as Part 121, and every machine under this category is required to have an SMS. Part 135s and 21s — which include charters and aircraft manufacturers — will soon be required to follow suit as requirements for compliance expand. A well-drafted SMS could stop many common issues with aircrafts, including:

• Equipment malfunctions
• Engine disruptions
• Avionics failures
• Contaminated fuel

What are the parts of an SMS?

The organizations creating SMS compliance needed to create standards for plans across companies would represent similar ideals. Additionally, it promotes knowledge-sharing between agencies, helping everyone become better at safety protocol by communicating their effective techniques.

The FAA requires four essential components to an SMS, including:

• Safety policy: Management’s promise to safety with a clarified method and extensive documentation
• Safety risk management: Analysis of risk portfolio and controls
• Safety assurance: Schedule for reviewing the effectiveness of the SMS, including audits and employee reports
• Safety promotion: Culture encouraging continued improvement, education and dedication to a safe work environment

These processes culminate into a package that helps airline managers, employees and partners to communicate transparently.

Management teams also have the option to incorporate digital tools to amplify the accuracy and efficiency of SMSs. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and digital twins help planners model the most accurate solutions for maintenance and safety procedures.

Instead of wasting materials and time testing processes, aircraft workers may simulate the SMS in action to ensure it’s effective. This prevents misunderstandings during training and increases the likelihood the SMS will remain effective in the long term.

How do companies implement an SMS?

The ICAO gives aircraft manufacturers and corporations a detailed implementation guide. Here is a summary of each phase of process development, step-by-step.

First, companies want to identify the scope of their SMS strategy based on corporate objectives. They must answer who is responsible for leading the development team, allocating finances and delegating tasks. This is also the time when project deadlines are established and marked with realistic milestones and metrics to measure advancements.

Next, training employees on how to interact with the documents is essential. What are the safety interfaces and locations for important documents? Is contact information for management accessible during an emergency?

Over time, managers must listen to staff feedback to ensure the SMS is as comprehensive and understandable as possible. The SMS should also change as industry recommendations change. The plan is a living document, so it should be adaptable.

A safer aviation industry

The number of aircraft tragedies in the news spotlights the need for more robust regulations. Expert agencies like the ICAO and FAA are vital for identifying the sector's most pressing problems and informing enterprises how to prevent catastrophes. Drafting an SMS is time-consuming, but it provides greater peace of mind to flyers worldwide.