Safety Management Systems

Last week AMT posted a news item regarding the FAA had validated the implementation of US Airways’ Safety Management System (SMS). www.amtonline.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=12653. The report stated that it was one of the first U.S. airlines to receive the FAA's validation of the company-wide implementation of the program, which at this time is still a voluntary program. Also in the news this week was a report the FAA extended the NPRM comment period for the SMS rule until March 8, 2011. The extension came as a result of several of the aviation alphabet groups primarily relating to general aviation, repair stations, and aircraft parts and manufacturing, jointly having made the request to extend the comment period. This current NPRM addresses operators or airlines regulated by Part 121. Recently enacted law will require all U.S. airlines to eventually have fully functioning SMS programs. It’s understandable these other aviation organizations are watching this activity closely. The new rule targeted at the airlines will no doubt establish some structure for other aviation organizations to eventually follow when SMS rulemaking eventually affects the rest. Understanding there will be differences between types of operations, it’s important for non-Part 121 organizations to consider the proposed rule language and potential impact now. Eventually these groups will likely help prepare their membership for future SMS implementation. SMS is intended to be a process-oriented approach to managing continuous safety in an organization. Has your aircraft maintenance organization already been involved with or implemented an SMS? What are your thoughts on SMS so far? We’d like to hear from some of you involved in formal SMS programs. Ron