Posts by Sam
AC 120-66C ASAP Update
AC120-66C: Aviation Safety Action Program provides guidance for ASAP development. ASAP programs encourage safety reporting and protect certificated airmen from enforcement actions. When a pilot or maintenance technician unintentionally violates a regulation, the airman’s certificate and livelihood are protected. Today, ASAP programs are designed and built right into a company’s FAA SMS Program. But what…
Read MoreHow to select an SMS service provider
Consider the following points in your evaluation of a new SMS provider: More than software. Is the provider offering software only? If so, much work will be required to develop an FAA-accepted SMS Manual that goes well beyond statements of policy to include Safety attributes for performing various SMS processes in the software. Written guidance.…
Read MoreSMS Databases
With Part 5 SMS mandates on the horizon for US Part 135 certificate holders and 91.147 LOA holders, numerous SMS service providers are peddling their solutions to smaller operators. Virtually all of these providers offer a web-based SMS database in which SMS policies, reports, and records of safety risk management (SRM), safety assurance (SA), and…
Read MoreWhy Policies and Procedures Matter
Many smaller organizations are not concerned with identifying their processes or documenting procedures. Policies are easy; procedures, not so much. In fact it’s not uncommon to find a Part 135 operator’s General Operations Manual (GOM) or General Maintenance Manual (GMM) full of policy statements, but lacking in clearly defined procedures. This might work as long…
Read MoreIntegrate ASAP into your SMS for Enhanced Aviation Safety Reporting
ASAP and SMS: FAA Advisory Circular AC 120-66C explains how to develop an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) within your organization as part of modern safety management systems. Many people are reluctant to report an error or other event that may involve a regulatory violation. The objective of ASAP is to encourage safety reporting by…
Read MoreFast Track FAA Acceptance of Your Part 5 SMS
Edit your Part 5 SMS Manual and prepare your Declaration of Compliance (DoC) in just a few hours. Follow these steps to assure rapid FAA acceptance of your professionally-developed SMS: Stand up your Part 5 SMS in just a few weeks. This is done by editing the harmonized SMS Manual template, policy statements, and Emergency…
Read MoreDeveloping a Part 5 SMS – There’s a Better Way
Developing a Part 5 SMS? Don’t re-invent the wheel! Today, with SMS mandates on the horizon for part 135 operators, 14 CFR § 91.147 operators, and certain part 21 certificate holders, many people still think their SMS needs to be developed internally, including integration with tools such as flight data monitoring. So they spend 3…
Read MoreThe Part 5 SMS Gap Analysis Trap
Part 5 SMS development and the outdated SMS gap analysis. Safety Management Systems (SMS) have come a long way since 2006, when they were first mandated by ICAO, and today many operators rely on an experienced SMS service provider to guide implementation. Twenty years ago SMS requirements were new and not well understood. So to…
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