Safety Systems (SMS) - SM4 Safety Articles & Resources

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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
person writing in notebook

Gaining Insight Into the Living DNA of a Safety Management System

Managing safety culture is like baking bread. It is a living organism, and no matter how you measure the ingredients and bake it, each loaf has its own unique shape, color and crumb. However, a multidimensional safety culture survey can be a vital tool for periodic assessment and improvement.

Posted on November 5, 2024
pilot in cockpit

Cognitive Overload in Aviation Training: Understanding and Mitigating Risks

If we look through a microscope at the elements of “safety”, we see things that are often hidden. We secretly know that the rules don’t matter as much as the attitude of the company and the person using them. The reality is that the rules are simply a benchmark to form a circle of safety parameters around an organization to establish the minimum level of safety.

Posted on October 1, 2024
aircraft waiting at hangar

FAR Part 91 Safety – What You Can Do Right Now

In a previous article (“FAR Part 91 Safety—Is It Time for a Wake-Up Call?”), we provided insights from 19 current directors of aviation about the state of safety in the…

Posted on August 8, 2024
Woman signaling the pilot with marshalling wands at airport

The Effects of a Learning Mindset on Safety Culture

As aviation departments strive to enhance their safety performance, a critical yet often overlooked element is the need to foster a learning-culture mindset. This mindset shift can unlock invaluable opportunities for continuous improvement, employee engagement and creating a resilient safety environment. From a behavioral management perspective, as your company’s learning culture goes, so goes the ongoing success of your SMS.

Posted on July 8, 2024
pilots in the cockpit preparing flight path and check list

Safety in Numbers: Trends in Aviation Accidents and Incidents

Every accident is preventable; the problem is that we don’t know how to prevent it until after the accident happens. However, what we can do as an industry is honor the anguish of each event by sharing the information, the mistakes and the outcomes to improve safety for everyone.

Posted on March 5, 2024
aircraft engineers discussing jet turbine

Is ChatGPT Ready To Analyze My SMS Portal’s Safety Reports?

While industry experts continue to design the next-gen AI-backed SMS software solution, safety managers can use ChatGPT to help them treat safety issues, audit findings and classify hazards contained in their SMS reporting.

Posted on March 5, 2024
fingers pointing in multiple directions

Leadership, Management and Safety: Embracing Compliance and Conformance Oversight

Aviation operations, and by default, safety, are based on the idea that regulatory requirements are fundamental to establishing a framework to achieve safe operations.

Posted on February 7, 2024
aircraft waiting at hangar

FAR Part 91 Safety – Is It Time for a Wake-Up Call?

The FAR Part 91 sector of aviation has long enjoyed an admirable safety record. Business aviation has always been perceived as a very safe and efficient way to fly.

Posted on February 7, 2024