SMS Training

A true SMS, a system that meets regulatory requirements and actually improves your safety profile, is complex. It includes the need for people with skills to identify, analyze, assess and control hazards and risks. It requires people to learn to work across corporate and cultural boundaries. It covers a significant amount of territory. It requires training.

How much training and where can you find it? You must first determine if you want to build your system from the ground up or if you want to purchase an “off-the shelf” product. If you develop a partnership with a vendor, their package should include comprehensive and continuous training for your system leaders and participants. That package should include training for your most senior managers including Department Managers, COOs, CFOs and even your President.

If you want to build your program from the ground up, you can access basic training from organizations like:

National Business Aviation Association (www.nbaa.org)
National Air Transportation Association (www.nata.aero)
Helicopter Association International (www.rotor.org)
Flight Safety Foundation (www.flightsafety.org)

You can also contact the organizations that were instrumental in creating the initial SMS concepts. The International Business Aviation Council (www.ibac.org) is a good place to start. And, of course, there is always the FAA (www.faa.gov).

If you are a helicopter operator we highly encourage you to review the information provided by the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST). http://ihst.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3053&language=en-US

Your partners in the Global Aerospace Safety Department are standing by to discuss the alternatives for SMS training. Don’t hesitate to contact us.