Without a doubt, every aviation service provider is different. National aviation SMS programs should be designed to address the specific needs of individual aviation service providers. All formal SMS programs generally have these two common elements:

1. SMS policy statement of the aims of the risk management program and the responsibilities for safety, security, quality and compliance
2. Regularly scheduled audits and inspections of premises, equipment, and work practices

In this article, we will discuss SMS Policy and Audits elements of an effective ICAO SMS Program.

Today's economic challenges and regulatory requirements force aviation service providers to implement Web-based, integrated safety and risk management database systems to reduce their risk to public safety and ensure compliance to global flight safety standards. Many regulatory standards have surfaced since ICAO's November 2006 SMS mandate outlined in the ICAO SMS Manual 9859.

Adherence to these risk management standards is obligatory and many organizations have followed ICAO's lead by publishing their own set of best practices and auditing guidelines, including IOSA, IS-BAO, Air Charter Safety Foundation, ISAGO, EU/JAR Ops (Joint Aviation Requirements) Quality Assurance. SMS Pro was desgined according to the principles outlined in this documentation.

SMS Pro has become one of the most popular integrated Safety and Risk Management Web solutions with an enterprise level database. Easy-to-use Web tools allow all authorized users to effortlessly analyse data and generate reports without the necessity of additional support resources, such as highly trained analysts.

Aviation safety audits are systematic examinations used to determine whether or not business processes meet previously specified requirements, and are usually performed using question lists that are well-defined. Audit results are valuated and documented in audit management databases. Audit management tools designed for the aviation industry help aviation service providers plan and process audits, monitor corrective and preventive actions that were determined during aviation-related audits, and evaluate audit data according to different criteria.

Aviation service providers' audit management solutions should remain very flexible and allow aviation service providers to perform any type of audit that regulators or clients may require. For example, client-related quality audits (system audits, process audits, product audits, supplier audits), environmental audits, security audits (airport security, aircraft security, ramp security), or aviation safety audits. 

Aviation safety management systems, just like quality or environmental management systems depend upon the proper handling of data. Aviation safety professionals are not data management professionals, yet these folks must make decisions that will affect the entire organization for years to come. Properly structured databases and file systems allow aviation service providers to access and mine data in the most efficient manner.

This article describes some common data management challenges faced by aviation service providers around the world. Being aware of these SMS data management challenges will help safety professional choose a data management strategy that will continue to serve them well for many years.

In order to use your organization's Web-based SMS application, users must be trained in its use and demonstrate that they understand their role in the aviation SMS program and the overall objective of your oganizaitonal aviation SMS.

The SMS Induction process is entirely voluntary for an organization, but highly recommended in order to ensure that:

• Your users are trained in the elements of SMS for which they are responsible for; and
• Your organization can successfully and more efficiently withstand an audit.

Safety management systems can be defined as a synchronized, far-reaching suite of practices developed to lead and regulate resources to optimally administer safety, security, safety and compliance problems affecting daily activities. Effective safety management systems take unrelated processes and builds them into one coherent arrangement to realize the next level of safety implementation, making safety management a basic component of general risk administration, service safety and customer satisfaction.

These days, aviation service providers benefit by improved productiveness and efficiencies by implementing up to date safety management systems. Modern safety or risk management systems can be web-based software applications that enable aviation service providers to practice pro-active and reactive risk management activities. As a result of these modern safety management software solutions employing a web-based platform, all staff are able to login to the system from everyplace with a stable internet link. This implies that aviation service providers with several sites across the world can track safety performance information throughout their total company in a distinct safety management program. The end result is a utterly clear illustration of executive safety performance.

Management often requires an Aviation SMS mechanism to document that team member read and understand important instructions or advisory notices. SMS Pro's Must Acknowledge module satisfies this requirement.

The following checklist shows how SMS Pro satisfies aviation safety management systems' requirements.

Questions such as this, are considered:

• Does aviation safety management system commit senior management to be involved in Aviation SMS?
• Has senior management approved flight organization’s aviation safety policy & operating safety standards?
• Does aviation safety management system detail how aviation safety policy and aviation safety standards will be communicated to all staff, with visible endorsement by senior management?
• Does aviation safety management system detail how appropriate resources will be allocated to support Aviation SMS?
• Does aviation safety management system include process for senior management to establish appropriate reporting chain for flight-related safety issues?
• Does aviation safety management system commit senior management to actively encourage staff participation in the SMS?

Transport Canada (TC) performed a thorough audit of SMS Pro recently. They were very impressed and consider it the most "comprehensive SMS tool they have seen so far." SMS Pro is a very user friendly, Web-based safety management system, including hazard reporting systems and sophisticated management, monitoring, and reporting tools that every aviation SMS should have in some fashion or another, whether you are under Transport Canada, FAA or ICAO regulations.

TC became excited many times when they saw aviation SMS functionality not seen in other systems. In addition, they liked how dynamic reports were available at a click of the fingers, especially the financial reports.

To see other SMS Pro items that impressed Transport Canada auditors, read more.