The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is introducing new regulations mandating charter airlines, commuter airlines, air tour operators, and select aircraft manufacturers to establish a safety management system (SMS) to detect and address safety risks early.
SMS offers a structured, repeatable and systematic approach to proactively identify hazards and manage safety risks. By integrating SMS, these aviation entities can enhance their ability to develop and implement tailored mitigations suitable for their unique operational environments.
Under the FAA's final ruling, these organisations must implement SMS within one to three years, depending on their operational scope. Since 2018, U.S. airlines have been required to adopt SMS and certain manufacturers have already instituted and integrated SMS practices, which the FAA has endorsed.
Requiring more aviation organisations to implement a proactive approach to managing safety will prevent accidents and save lives,” remarked FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.
The regulation further stipulates that entities with an SMS must share hazard information with other aviation organisations, fostering collaborative efforts to identify and rectify potential safety concerns.
This final ruling surpasses the requirements outlined in the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act of 2020, which solely mandated SMS for aircraft manufacturers. Additionally, the ruling addresses recommendations put forth by the National Transportation Safety Board and independent review panels.
