Safety
SMS: more than just the latest buzzword for bizav
If you regard safety management systems as just the latest fad for corporate aviation flight departments, think again, Daedalus Aviation Services president

If you regard safety management systems as just the latest fad for corporate aviation flight departments, think again, Daedalus Aviation Services president David Bjellos told the nearly 450 attendees at the 53rd Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar (CASS), which was held early last month in Palm Harbor, Fla. Emphasizing SMS’s importance, almost every presentation at CASS was about SMS or mentioned the topic in some shape or form.

The FAA, via AC 190-92, defines an SMS as “a quality management approach to controlling risk. It also provides the organizational framework to support a sound safety culture.” In practice, it’s a way for a flight department internally to capture previously unreported incidents or safety concerns so they can be addressed in a proactive manner.