SMS Introduction

Introduction to SMS
Safety is about anything that could
potentially endanger the safety of a person,
aircraft or company.

A Safety Management System (SMS) is an

organised approach to managing safety
including the necessary organisational
structures, accountabilities, policies and
procedures.
 Direct Maintenance SMM
Direct Maintenance has developed a Safety
Management Manual (SMM) including the
before mentioned items in order to
manage safety. The SMM is available online
on the QA SharePoint page.
 Why SMS?
Why does an organisation need an SMS if it
Quality SMS
already has a Quality System, including a Today Future
safety policy as per EASA PART 145?

The answer is that a Quality Management

System and Safety Management System are
two different things.

QUALITY = TODAY

SAFETY = THE FUTURE

 The Quality Management System:
• Is a reactive process. It asks, “Are we
doing what we are required to do and
what we say we are doing.”

• It responds to events that have already

happened. (Occurrence reporting)

• Its objective is to determine conformity

with the requirements of the authorities
and the company
 The Safety Management System:
• Is a proactive and predictive process. It
asks, “What can we do in the future to
reduce risk and increase efficiency.”

• It responds to threats/hazards/risks that

can lead to accidents. (Hazard reporting).

• Its objective is to describe how we should

be conducting ourselves.
 Safety Risk Management:
The identification and assessment of safety issues,
development of mitigation actions and measurement
of their effectiveness serve to provide a positive
feedback loop with the aim of reducing the systemic
and operational safety risks.
 Hazards and Risks:
Definition of Hazard:
A hazard can be considered as a dormant potential
for harm which is present in one form or another
within the aviation system or its environment. This
potential for harm may be in the form of a natural
hazard such as terrain, or a technical hazard such as
wrong runway markings.

Definition of Risk:
The combination of the predicted frequency and
severity of the consequences of hazard(s)
taking into account all of the potential outcomes
Identifying Hazards:
A hazard can be considered a latent error or
threat that has some level of risk associated
with it. Hazards within an organisation can
be identified through data collection:

1. Hazard Logs
2. Safety/Quality Audits
3. Policy Reviews (NC analysis)
4. Maintenance Reports
5. Training Records
6. Occurrence reports
 Reporting Hazards within Direct
Maintenance:
It is important that everybody reports hazards so
appropriate corrective action can be taken.

A log used by staff that enables the Safety department

to rapidly identify problems that lead to mishaps.

A hazard should be reported by means of form SMS-

001.

This can be done anonymously.

Examples of hazards in Maintenance
Organisation:
1. Use of outdated procedure
2. Delayed implementation of AD
3. Use of non-OEM certified parts
4. Improper handover of remaining work to next shift
5. Improper application of paint or other chemicals
6. Chemical spillage
7. Repair of wrong system/component

Remember: before it happens it’s a hazard (proactive), but after it happened

it’s considered as an occurrence (reactive).
Risk Assessment (Matrix)
Example: Company X currently operating a (PT6) Cessna
Caravan on extended overwater operations. One of the pilots is
concerned that the risk of operating a single engine aircraft
over water is a high risk due to a potential engine failure.

MTBF of engine: 1 in 100,000 hours, X performs own

maintenance, inspection process exceptional.

Severity => 5 15-25 Unacceptable under existing circumstances.

Risk => 10 , acceptable. (training Management action required.
waterlanding, fly at higher 4 -14 Acceptable based on cost benefit or risk mitigation.
altitude) It might require management decision.
Probability => 2 1 - 3 Acceptable.
 Remedial action:
A system, activity, action or procedure that is put in
place to reduce the risks associated with a hazard.
To reduce a risk, the severity and/or the probability
should be reduced.
Any action should be a balanced compromise.
Example: By installing floats on a Cessna
Caravan, the severity of an engine failure during
over water operations is reduced, and therefore
also the risk. However, at the cost of speed and
manouvrability due to increase weight and drag.
 Continuous monitoring
Safety performance can be monitored by means of:

1. Observation
2. Surveys and Questionnaires
3. Interviews,
4. Focus groups (DM too small)
5. Complaints of ........
6. Dollars / Euro’s
7. Trend Analysis
8. Accidents / Incidents rates
9. Audits
Why care?
- Increased Safety
- Reduced Incidents
- Lower Operational Risk
(new operations, activities)
- Reduced Costs
- Greater Profitability
 THE END
In case of any comments/questions contact:

QA@directmaintenance.aero