Safety Systems (SMS) - 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
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