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Air Operator Safety Management System (SMS-P) Standard: Functional Requirements (AC 120-92) and Safety Management Manual Document 9859 AN/460

These documents follows the basic format of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 but is intended to address aviation safety related operational and support processes and activities rather than occupational safety, environmental protection, or customer service quality.

The Safety Management Systems can support the following types of aviation operations:

• Aircraft Operations
• Air Traffic Services (ATS)
• Aerodrome Operations

Safety Benefits of an SMS. An SMS is essentially a quality management approach to controlling risk. It also provides the organizational framework to support a sound safety culture. For general aviation operators, an SMS can form the core of the company’s safety efforts. For certificated operators such as airlines, air taxi operators, and aviation training organizations, the SMS can also serve as an efficient means of interfacing with FAA certificate oversight offices. The SMS provides the company’s management with a detailed roadmap for monitoring safety-related processes.

Business Benefits of an SMS. Development and implementation of an SMS can give the aviation service provider’s management a structured set of tools to meet their legal responsibilities but they can also provide significant business benefits. The SMS incorporates internal evaluation and quality assurance concepts that can result in more structured management and continuous improvement of operational processes. The SMS outlined in this AC is designed to allow integration of safety efforts into the operator’s business model and to integrate other systems such as quality, occupational safety, and environmental control systems that operators might already have in place or might be considering. Operators in other countries and in other industries who have integrated SMSs into their business models report that the added emphasis on process management and continuous improvement benefits them financially as well.

Eagle Group can help you develop and maintaining your Safety Management System.

Also see our page on the National Business Aviation Association