SMS PROGRAMS

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SMS FOR PART 91 & 135

Many Part 91 and 135 operators were early adopters of SMS due to the ICAO SMS mandate in 2006 and from those early days, we learned that most operators had staffing constraints, which tended to limit the effectiveness of their program.

So, we have simplified the processes and developed cost effective support services that allowed them to fully benefit from a robust SMS, without adding staff or buying expensive web based software. 

Our two basic SMS managed programs include initial and recurrent training as well as SMS Coordinator training. 

The SAFE program is designed for part 91 operators who need a hand managing their day to day SMS, need the safety officer bulletin, quarterly internal audit protocols, but don't need the annual safety performance assessment (SPA).

The CMP program, (Collaborative Management Program) is a very robust support service that provides everything in the SAFE program and includes an onsite or virtual Safety Performance Assessment (SPA) each year. 

Both programs are designed to act as a full time Safety Officer who regularly interacts with your onsite SO to ensure you're receiving all the benefits of an effective SMS program. 

SMS FOR AIRPORTS

SMS implementation is only the first step, but you've got to get it right, or you'll end up wasting valuable time and that means missed opportunities that have potential safety consequences. 

Our Project Management Program is designed for small airports who are looking for an efficient and cost effective way to adopt and implement SMS without disrupting their normal operations or overburdening existing staff. 

The new SMS regulation covers roughly 260 airports, the biggest and busiest and the FAA estimates it takes 1380 hours to implement the basic SMS framework, which only gets you to the starting line. 

The lack of experience and familiarity with the SMS standard caused the airports involved in the initial airport pilot studies to start from scratch, with consultants who had zero SMS experience, which resulted in the high time estimates. You should be able to make the transition to SMS in a fraction of that estimate with the right guidance.

The key to achieving an effective SMS program is keeping it simple, and that requires a substantial amount of SMS knowledge and hands on experience, something that is not readily available from AE companies and consultants.

SMS TRAINING PROGRAMS

The single most important thing you need to do before you start the process is get some basic training.

We provide initial and recurrent SMS training onsite for all of our programs and provide additional training for your designated SMS Coordinator on request.

Our practical training programs are based on nearly 20 years of hands-on SMS experience, and simplifies the entire process, which increases the probability it will be used by your staff. 

We can provide any level of training you need onsite or virtually. We can also send you all of the training material you'll need for your onsite trainer to train your team.

The biggest mistake you can make is to not train everyone in your entire operation including support staff. The SMS success or failure is predicated on buy-in from management as well as every single individual in the organization.

This course is robust and will include a basic SMS procedures manual, basic implementation plan and training material so you can train your team.

CONFORMITY AUDITS

There currently is no pathway to have your SMS "approved"  by the FAA or anybody else. The solution is to utilize a provision found in ISO 9001/9100 Quality Management Standards that allows operators to seek self-declaration by a party external to the organization, often referred to as, confirmation of conformity declaration. 

We've done hundreds of these audits and while the process is rigorous, it is a team building opportunity that raises your level of safety performance substantially. This audit is collaborative not punitive and is designed to correct any and all non-conformities during the process. 

The process starts well in advance of our arrival onsite and we will review your manuals and policies prior to the audit. We recommend you assign one to two of your team to work beside us as we go through the process. 

Our audit protocols follow AC120-92B and Part 5 for flight departments and AC120/150-37A subpart E for airports. 

For a concise proposal that includes protocols, timeframe and costs, click on the link below:

COLABORATIVE MANAGMENT PROGRAM

Whether you are a flight department or a part 139 airport, you have the option of joining our CMP group where we provide your initial SMS implementation and provide a full year of SMS management. 

At the end of your first year, you may decide you're ready to take over the administrative and managerial aspects of your SMS, or you also may decide to stay in the CMP to ensure your program continues to provide benefit while conforming to industry standards.

The CMP was designed to provide virtual management, data collection and analysis, continuous safety training and safety committee meetings to ensure you are getting the most from your SMS. 

Our program gets you to a level of competence quickly, so you can start fully benefiting from your SMS. Without this type of apprenticeship. 

The CMP was originally designed to help you get to level 4 of the FAA's maturity ladder, but most of our clients continue with the program once they see how effective it is. 

The CMP is the equivalent of hiring a full time experienced safety officer with one small difference; the cost. 

SAFETY OFFICER BULLETINS (SOB service)

One of the most important components of your SMS is Safety Promotion, which keeps the focus where it belongs, on hazard awareness and mitigation. 

Using our weekly bulletin service takes the burden of creating interesting, timely and concise safety training material off your plate and is the most cost effective way we know of to chip away at complacency.

We know from experience that hazards can be physical as well as nonphysical and include human factors, fatigue, hazardous attitudes, error producing conditions, and CRM markers, all of which leads to the Normalization of Deviance, the root cause behind the majority of aviation flight and ground accidents. 

Investigation summaries, lessons learned,  and NTSB recommendations are included  each week keeping your team abreast of what is happening in the industry. 

Probably the most important aspect of the SOB is providing you with practical SMS tips that can help you simplify how you manage your program. 

One subscription covers your entire operation, no matter how many employees you have. And, if you need initial or recurrent SMS training, we can send you the training as part of your subscription.