SM4 Safety Articles & Resources

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ground crew using walkie-talkie on airport tarmac

Giving the Hazard Log the Attention It Deserves

Safety risk profile. Hazard log. Hazard risk register. Whatever you call it internally, one thing is clear: It is a fundamental requirement in your safety management system.

Posted on March 31, 2025
Airport control tower at sunset

Leadership, Accountability and Your Organization’s Risk Profile

Recent media attention has cast light on the unusual number of aviation system-related accidents, incidents and near-misses that have plagued our industry over the past several months.

Posted on March 31, 2025
mechanic working on aircraft in hangar

Aviation Safety—Grounded!

When we talk about aviation safety, our attention often goes to aircraft operational concerns. They are important, but by no means do they represent all the risks in a flight department. So, what’s “the rest of the story”?

Posted on March 5, 2025
Aircraft on snowy runway in mountains

Mitigating Risk – Amidst the Chaos

There have been more high-profile aviation accidents in the last few months than in the last few decades. As we mourn those we have lost and aim not to make assumptions before final reports are completed, we must focus, personally and professionally, on assessing the risk of something similar happening within our aviation enterprises.

Posted on March 5, 2025
Pilots outside a private jet plane preparing flight path and check list from digital tablet

Data Sharing: The Heartbeat of Safety in the Skies

Flying today is anything but a simple, straightforward path. Pilots have multiple factors to consider for ensuring the safest and most sustainable flight experience.

Posted on February 7, 2025
ground crew signaling the pilot with marshalling wands at airport

The Insidious Nature of the Routine

When routine tasks become familiar and are no longer actively assessed for threats, they often are the first link in an error chain that results in a serious mishap. It is natural for crews to become comfortable with seemingly low-risk tasks, allowing complacency and distractions to permeate their focused attention.

Posted on February 7, 2025
Air traffic control team working in airport tower

Code Red: Planning for the Cyberattack Aftermath

This is an era of rapid change and technological advancement, and although it is challenging, responsible organizations seek to manage and mitigate cyber risks. Insecure systems and uncertain people, added to inadequate contingency plans, create a perfect business continuity storm in the aftermath of a cyberattack.

Posted on December 10, 2024
Aircraft mechanic inspects a jet in hangar at airport

Let’s Get Personal (About Risk)

Aviation loves to talk about risk management. Insurance companies, manufacturers, and organizations all fully embrace the concept and know that to make it work on the line, we must get people at all levels and from all functional areas to embrace it. Tools such as the Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) are noble attempts, but at the core of it all lies the simple fact that people, as individuals, view risk differently.

Posted on December 10, 2024
check engine lights

Check Engine Light: The Illusion of Program Effectiveness

An aviation company’s responsibility is to ensure regulatory compliance and conformance to its internal policies, procedures and processes, including voluntary standards. To do that, leaders and team members throughout an organization must understand and monitor the “dashboard lights.”

Posted on November 5, 2024