SMS Tool Kit Available

Business aviation associations have embraced new program to assist operators implement Safety Management Systems (SMS), the coming aviation safety regime that relies on companies to executive internal safety monitoring systems that catch problems and identify negative safety trends before they cause an accident. Related Story SMS is central to modern thinking in aviation safety and is being progressively introduced into regulations in response to global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The new tool kit will be of immediate interest to commercial fixed-wing and rotary-wing operators, the first sectors to be impacted by the new regulatory requirements. The program will be available to operators in October 2008.
The new SMS Tool Kit (SMS TK) builds on the industry’s successful International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) introduced in 2002. International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) Chair Rui Thomaz de Aquino indicated that IBAC’s eight years using SMS, affords it the ability to build a tool kit for operators just beginning to incorporate SMS into their operations.
“This is a perfect example of how the professional associations can support members in delivering safety and meeting regulatory requirements by taking advantage of best practice available across the industry," said Eric Mandemaker, CEO of EBAA. “We are delighted to be working with IBAC on this important initiative to enable members to do this as effectively and affordably as possible.”
The kit will assist both non-commercial and commercial operators optimize the safety benefits. For commercial, on-demand charter operators facing the new regulatory requirements, the kit provides a step-by-step program for implementing the new safety provisions. While the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has promulgated performance-based rules it has left it to industry to develop the guidance material detailing how it is to be done.
Business aviation associations formed a group of safety specialists to develop the stand-alone SMS TK to be responsive to rule requirements of regulations from around the world. “The Tool Kit provides operators with a common sense and systematic methodology,” said Aquino. “The kit will give operators the guidance they need to not only satisfy new regulatory requirements but to fully benefit from the considerable safety benefits inherent in SMS programs.”
Associations continue to encourage operators to implement IS-BAO, but for those operators who wish only to implement SMS to satisfy regulations, the Tool Kit will provide the guidance.