Safety Systems (SMS) - SM4 Safety Articles & Resources
How Much SMS Does Your Flight Department Need?
A safety management system scales to the operation using it. For a small flight department, the core functions can fit inside the routines the team already runs.
When the Drone Does Something Unexpected: Preparing Pilots Beyond the Checklist
A pilot is finishing a routine aerial inspection when the drone stops responding as expected. The video feed freezes, a warning appears or the aircraft begins an automated maneuver the pilot did not anticipate.
Before the Event: Finding Safety Signals in Everyday Flight Data
Most flights end exactly as planned. The passengers arrive, the aircraft returns to service and no safety report is filed. Yet from a safety perspective, the flight’s data may still have something important to say.
Preparedness Is Key To Combat Growing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Interference
Over the past several decades, GNSS has evolved from a convenience to a critical component of modern aviation safety. Today’s aircraft rely on GNSS for aircraft positioning and navigation, instrument approaches, surveillance and traffic awareness, terrain awareness and runway overrun prevention.
Safety Management Systems in Aviation Maintenance
There has been “much ado” about Safety Management Systems (SMSs) in aviation since their debut many years ago. A great deal of the attention has gone to SMS implementation in the Flight Operations arena, and it’s been a positive story.
The Modern “Water Cooler”: How Collective Intelligence Drives Aviation Safety
Who would have thought the humble water cooler would still be driving industry-wide progress? In aviation, progress has always been fueled by shared knowledge.
How Compounding Risks Drive Runway Excursions
Runway excursions rarely result from a single factor. More often, they develop when several manageable risks combine into a situation that leaves little margin for error.
When Risk Becomes Routine: Normalization of Deviation in Your Operation
Let’s start with a simple question: What’s something in your operation that technically “works,” but doesn’t fully align with your standard operating procedures?
The Case for Better Standard Operating Procedures
In July 2008, a business jet operating under 14 CFR Part 135 touched down long on landing. In its analysis, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that, recognizing the deteriorating situation, the flight crew attempted a balked landing and initiated a go-around.
