By establishing an effective safety management system (SMS) and creating a safety culture aimed at making safety a focus first and always, operators will improve aviation safety and reduce the risk of accidents. An SMS is a formal, top-down, organization-wide approach to managing safety risk and assuring the effectiveness of safety risk controls. An SMS should address four components: safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion.
In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required commercial airliners to develop a comprehensive SMS to improve safety for the flying public. Building on our recommendations, the FAA published a final rule in 2024 that expands SMS requirements. The rule addresses some, but not all, of our safety recommendations and we are continuing to advocate for them.
Although some operators have voluntarily adopted SMS programs, a significant majority still lack them. The good news is that an SMS can be tailored to the specific size and complexity of an operation. However, the FAA could further enhance its guidance on scaling SMS implementation. Increased adoption is crucial-to the safety of the flying public depends on it.
Although we strongly encourage the FAA to establish regulations mandating SMSs across the industry, operators should not wait for a directive to take action. SMS programs are critical tools for continually improving aviation safety and fostering a culture of safety, regardless of regulations.
Operators:
- Implement an SMS program that adheres to the best practices outlined in the FAA SMS voluntary program and Advisory Circular 120-92B, Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers. This approach establishes effective risk management practices and promotes a strong safety culture.
- Additionally, implement a flight data monitoring (FDM) program, which can significantly enhance an SMS program. FDM programs analyze flight data to identify trends and potential safety issues, allowing for proactive mitigation strategies.
Regulators:
- Require all 14 CFR Part 91 revenue passenger-carrying operators to establish SMS programs.
- Require an SMS for those organizations that maintain aircraft, such as Part 145 repair stations.
- Require all 14 CFR Part 135 operators to install flight data recording devices capable of supporting a FDM program, and require operators to establish a structured FDM program that reviews all available data sources to identify deviations from established norms and procedures and other potential safety issues.
Open Recommendations that Represent Critical Safety Priorities
A-24-3 to the FAA: Encourage Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 operators to use their safety management system to identify flight crew surface navigation errors resulting from the performance of concurrent tasks during taxi and develop and implement effective risk mitigation strategies considering human factors principles.
A-22-15 to the FAA: Develop guidance for small operators for scaling a safety management system that includes methods and techniques for implementation and specific examples applicable to several operational sectors, including air tours..
A-22-16 to the FAA: Issue a safety alert for operators to encourage air tour operators to establish safety assurance processes to routinely review recorded onboard videos and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast flight tracking data, ideally as part of a safety management system with an integrated flight data monitoring program, for the purpose of identifying and addressing risky trends in weather-related operating practices, such as encounters or near encounters with instrument meteorological conditions-related hazards.
A-21-8 to Maverick Helicopters: Install flight data recording devices capable of supporting a flight data monitoring (FDM) program on each helicopter in your fleet and establish an FDM program that reviews all available data sources to identify deviations from established norms and procedures as well as other potential safety issues.
A-21-13 to the FAA: Require safety management systems for the revenue passenger-carrying operations addressed in Safety Recommendations A-21-9 and -10.
A-21-14 to the FAA: For the revenue passenger-carrying operations addressed in Safety Recommendations A 21-9 and -10, provide ongoing oversight of each operator’s safety management system once established.
A-21-48 to the FAA:
Require organizations that design, manufacture, and maintain aircraft to establish a safety management system.
A-20-25 to Survival Flight: Establish a safety management system (SMS) program under the Federal Aviation Administration SMS Voluntary Program that includes compliance with Advisory Circular 120-92B, “Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers.”
A-19-28 to the FAA: Require all commercial air tour operators, regardless of their operating rule, to implement a safety management system.
A-16-34 to the AA: Require all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 operators to install flight data recording devices capable of supporting a flight data monitoring program.
A-16-35 to the FAA: After the action in Safety Recommendation A-16-34 is completed, require all 14 CFR Part 135 operators to establish a structured flight data monitoring program that reviews all available data sources to identify deviations from established norms and procedures and other potential safety issues.
A-16-36 to FAA: Require all 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 operators to establish safety management system programs.
A-14-106 to 44 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia: Arrange for an audit of the safety management system implemented in response to Safety Recommendation A-14-105 to be conducted every 3 years by an outside organization.
Updated November 4, 2024
