Casio

Hi everybody,

Has anybody here seen a solution for small EU OPS operators regarding SMS? I think I'm rather positive towards the regulatory environment we work in, but I can't see how a small operator is supposed to be able to set up an SMS system.

Thoughts? Comments?


Casio

Saint Jack

Casio: I empathize with your situation and have heard it often. Unlike your Ops Manual, Maintenance Exposition and so on, which have to follow a given content and format (within small parameters), an SMS does not. The principal reason for this is that different companies have different operating environments, different operating cultures, different risk exposures and - most importantly - different management philosophies towards 'safety'. I once performed a safety audit on a mid-size operator and had the Safety officer tell me quite openly that ".. the management don't emphasize safety because it doesn't make money."

Make no mistake, if your top mangement doesn't give whole-hearted support to the SMS you're dead in the water.

A company SMS should reflect the size and complexity of that company, no more, no less, you have to determine the content yourself based on these factors. I'm sure you've read UKCAA CAPs 712 and 726, at the risk of making things a little more complicated for you, also take a look at Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) AC 1-3(2) and Transport Canada (TC) AC 107-001 on this topic.

At all costs avoid the individuals that will come knocking on your door trying to sell you a 'one-size-fits-all' SMS approach - IT WILL NOT WORK.

Nimbus265

Couldn't agree more!

Casio

Thank you both for your replies.

I have to admit that I hadn't read those CAPS from the UK CAA. From what I have read from the UK CAA in the past they usually give good direction so I went on to read. The first CAP has been obsoleted from their system, but I was lead to another document that I think is going to prove quite useful: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/872/SMSGui...anisations.pdf

I totally agree with you Saint Jack, if the management doesn't go with this implementation is going to fail. It is the same as for the Quality System. But for those operators I have in mind I'm not worried.

I have seen a few sites that advertise SMS for sale, but I just can't see it work. Actually those who offer Operations Manuals or Maintenance Exposition are also selling something that will never work. Both manuals, particularly the CAME, have so many particular procedures it will never work to buy and use something of the shelf.


Casio

Stratocaster

I completely agree that there's no such thing as a "plug&play SMS", however you have to admit that sometimes it's quite interesting to see how others do it, provided they let you. Some safety management systems out there are simply amazing (thanks to senior management of course), others are just window-dressing and completely useless.

In this case you should probably look at what IBAC offers in the SMS toolkit that comes with the IS-BAO, if you haven't done it already of course.

ENFP

Casio

Please check PM's

Casio

Thanks for your reply Stratocaster and you for your PM ENFP!


Casio