FAA Order Lays Groundwork for Unified Agency Safety Management System | Aviation International News

FAA Order Lays Groundwork for Unified Agency SMS

Order follows creation of Aviation Safety Management Office earlier this year

FAA building, Washington DC — The FAA has worked closely with industry to re-register aircraft that were grounded. © AIN archives

By Kerry Lynch • Editor, AIN monthly magazine

September 17, 2026

The FAA this week released an order implementing a unified safety management system (SMS) throughout the agency. Effective September 15, Order 1030.8 establishes safety management policy and the requirements for a single SMS under the Aviation Safety Management Office.

In January, the agency announced a reorganization that included a new safety oversight office tasked with implementing a single safety management system and risk management strategy throughout the FAA. The agency said that instead of having individual offices monitor their own safety metrics, the new office would pull together and share safety data from across the agency.

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