Excellife9

As a Part 91 operator we have been made aware of an ICAO/FAA mandate of Nov 2010 to have implemented a Safety Management System Program (SMS). With the research I have done, I have found that this seems to be directed at large operations with multiple personnel. We are a small single airplane, two pilot operation and Im finding it challenging to scale the required framework down to fit our operation. I was curious if there are any other small operators out there who are having the same issues. Hopefully, you can shed some light on how you are making it work to fit your operation. Thanks!

BoilerUP

I don't think SMS has yet been mandated for Part 91 domestic-only operators...and if it has its news to me.

Zman

Boiler: I can help you out with that. The FAA hasn't gotten on board...yet. But if you plan on flying internationally at all (including Bahamas, Canada, etc.) then you need to start putting things into place now. Let me know if you want more info, my e-mail is [email protected] and I can guide you through the process...I've got experience doing just what you are looking for for half a dozen domestic, small flight departments within the last 12 months.

JZ

Plane5150

Excel,

I just finished our department's SMS manual this past week. We have two airplanes, 3 pilots, and a mechanic. Spend at least a couple weeks researching SMS to ensure you have an idea of the road ahead before you begin.

I recommend starting with the SMS eLearning course developed by IBAC and Flight Safety ($300). Additionally, we purchased the SMS tool kit through NBAA ($650 for members, $1250 for non members). The tool kit consists of a 50 page booklet and a CD with sample forms, templates, and other useful info. NBAA has an SMS manual broken down into sections that you can view and edit custom to your operation. There are also some SMS manuals for departments that you can find online and look through as a reference.

It is not a quick process and should involve EVERYONE in your department. From your CEO/President down to the janitor. Sounds like you have a small operation, as do we, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Initially I thought it was an impossible undertaking but in the end it wasn't too bad.

We haven't had an auditor view the manual yet so I am sure there is still room for improvement. When the time comes I'll post more info here.

Hope this helps for a start. Post here or PM me if I can be of any further assistance.

5150

Excellife9

Thanks for the comments and the offers for help. I will certainly be posting questions here and hope to hear from those engaged in the process. Plane 5150, are you suggesting there is no way around including EVERYONE in the program? Limiting the verbage in the manual to just the flight department is not an option? It MUST include the company as a whole? Thanks again

Plane5150

Of course the bulk of the manual will focus on the flight department but other departments should be included in the development of the manual.

Human Resources should be involved to help create policies and be made aware of any elements of the SMS that may affect their procedures. For example, if your manual includes stricter pilot experience requirments, HR would need to be made aware of that.

Accounting should be made aware of the SMS development so they won't be caught off guard when/if certain (safety related) expenses increase in order to comply with new flight department procedures.

Most importanly, you need the backing of your President/CEO. It is likely the SMS could appear as restrictive to the operation but the case needs to be made that it is the name of safer, more efficient operations. Also, expenses are likely to be reduced in the long run by reducing work related injuries/illness and fewer mx inspections due to improper pilot procedures (ie. better/more frequent training reducing the number of hot starts). Just to name a couple...

5150

BoilerUP

While I understand trying to sell something, I think that's a bit of a stretch...how often do pilots of turbine aircraft hot start their engines?

I could see the best method of persuading one's boss being "If we don't do this, we won't be able to fly you to your house in St. Marteen or pursue that client in Toronto."

If honey don't work, sometimes you've gotta have a club in your back pocket

Plane5150

Good point Boiler! Perhaps I left everyone hanging with the hot start example. I was in a hurry out the door earlier and didn't expand on why I suggested that.

The example stuck out in my mind as it was a scenario I ran across in researching SMS development. Basically, there was a helicopter company that had 3 different pilots experience hot starts within a 6 month period. Common sense would dictate that after the first occurance some sort of memo would be distributed along with attempts to ensure all pilots are clear on proper procedures. Well for some reason it took 3 hot starts at something like $12k each for inspection and repairs for this company to decide to look further into the problem. It turned out the pilots were improperly trained/unclear on proper procedures.

In theory, had there been an SMS before hand then there would have been procedures in place for investigating and correcting the root cause after the first occurence.

Spending $15k in training for 3 pilots as a one time expense would have been cheaper than paying $36k for hot start related inspections and repairs + down time.

Hope all that made sense...

ce650

We are in the early stages of getting is-bao certified and it looks like a 2 year process

geosynchronous

Regarding a small flight department, my suggestion is to work with an independent IS-BAO auditor, not a "big-box" company. This has worked well for us; we plan on our final audit in February, 2010-- approximately one year after initially getting started. It's not that a big box company cannot provide the mechanisms and guidance necessary for an effective SMS and subsequent registration with IS-BAO, it's just that working with a single person helps simplify and customize a plan that "fits" your organization better, IMHO.

Keep in mind, you are not re-inventing the wheel when you implement a SMS. You are just installing some new all season radials. Many of the safety related elements and processes that you probably already engage in are most likely in place; you are just documenting your processes and submitting to an external audit, with the goal of being internationally registered.

The suggestions by others on senior management involvement cannot be stressed enough.

Good luck with your endeavor, it will pay off in the end.

"Safety is the sum of all of the accidents that you do not have."