Safety Systems (SMS) - SM4 Safety Articles & Resources
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Working to Assure System Safety
Managing a flight department today requires teamwork to assure compliance with the multitude of regulations impacting the conduct of operations and to assure conformance to corporate policies, voluntary standards, and…
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The Difference Between Safety Risk Profiles and Safety Performance Indicators
A question was recently posted as to the differences between a Safety Risk Profile (SRP) and Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs). The Safety Risk Profile is an evaluation of the perceived…
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Are you Ready for Thermal-Runaway?
Thermal runaway has been on our radar for a while, as you will surely remember the Japan Airlines B-787 that caught fire while sitting on the ramp in 2013. Thus…
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Vetting and Selecting a Supplemental Lift Provider
Most organizations that own and operate their own aviation assets are not very keen on bringing in an external lift provider. Likely, there are two principal reasons: First, they believe…
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Why You Need a “Business Aircraft Use Policy”
In today’s era of IS-BAO, most flight departments have a well-defined and documented Flight Operations Manual, which clearly outlines the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft. But many companies…
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Do You Think You’re Ready? An Inside Look at Gaining the Most Benefit From an Audit
After a recent independent operational safety audit conducted on a high-profile flight department, the director of aviation commented that he and his team learned more about their “books” and contents…
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Evaluating Safety When Selecting Air Charters
“When travelers arrange an on-demand charter flight, they do so believing the flight will be safe. They implicitly trust that FAA standards, the charter company Standard Operating Procedures, and the…
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What is the Best SMS Tool? – YOU ARE!
Do you remember the old U.S. Army recruiting posters depicting “Uncle Sam” and the slogan, “I Want You”? It might be a throwback to a challenging time when our nation…
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Eliminating Confusion within your SMS – SPIs, SPTs vs KPIs
For those operators within IBAC’s IS-BAO and IS-BAH programs who are voluntarily developing and implementing a Safety Management System (SMS) to move above mere regulatory requirements, IBAC standard enhancements over…