Implementing Safety Management Systems in Aviation

The International Civil Aviation Organization has mandated that all of its member states implement Safety Management Systems (SMS) in their aviation industries. Responding to that call, many countries are now in various stages of SMS development, implementation, and rulemaking. In their first book, Safety Management Systems in Aviation, Stolzer, Halford, and Goglia provided a strong theoretical framework for SMS, along with a brief discourse on SMS implementation. This follow-up book provides a very brief overview of SMS and offers significant guidance and best practices on implementing SMS programs. Very specific guidance is provided by industry experts from government, industry, academia, and consulting, who share their invaluable insights from first-hand experience of all aspects of effective SMS programs. The contributing authors come from all facets of aviation, including regulation and oversight, airline, general aviation, military, airport, maintenance, and industrial safety. Chapters address important topics such as how to develop a system description and perform task analyses, perspectives on data sharing, strategies for gaining management support, establishing a safety culture, approaches to auditing, integrating emergency planning and SMS, and more. Also included is a fictional narrative/story that can be used as a case study on SMS implementation. Implementing Safety Management Systems in Aviation is written for safety professionals and students alike.

Alan J. Stolzer, Ph.D. is Chair and Professor of Doctoral Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Quality Systems from Indiana State University, and several professional certifications: Quality Engineer, Quality Manager, and Quality Auditor from the American Society for Quality; Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute; Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor with Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings, and Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic from the Federal Aviation Administration. Dr. Stolzer has several thousand hours in more than 40 makes and models of fixed-wing aircraft. His research interests include safety, quality, flight operations quality assurance, safety management systems, and emergency preparedness. He is a prolific author and has been awarded and managed numerous grants and contracted training programs. Dr. Stolzer is involved in academic accreditation activities and has served as an expert witness and legal consultant on aviation accidents. Carl D. Halford has wide experience in many aspects of airline operations, including safety and quality, airline flight and simulator instruction, maintenance, management and union representation. Mr. Halford holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, with an assortment of type ratings, and has over 9000 hours of flight time in a variety of aircraft. Mr. Halford has held a variety of airline positions, including Manager of Voluntary Aviation Safety Programs, Manager of Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), Manager of Aviation Safety Action Partnership (ASAP), and Manager of Part 121 Training. He has also been an Airline Pilots Association Master Executive Committee Chairman and holds several professional certifications. Mr. Halford has completed a Masters degree from DePaul University, with a specialization in Safety Management Systems (SMS). He has assisted in the construction of the Distributed National Archive for airline safety information, and is presently engaged in research with MITRE Corporation in this endeavor. John J. Goglia is an active consultant, author, and educator in the field of transportation safety. Mr. Goglia served as a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board from August 1995 to June 2004 and was the first Board Member to hold an FAA aircraft mechanic's certificate. As a Board Member, Mr. Goglia distinguished himself in numerous areas of transportation safety. In particular, he was instrumental in raising awareness of airport safety issues, including the importance of airport crash fire and rescue operations and the dangers of wildlife at airports, and played a key role in focusing international attention on the increasing significance of aircraft maintenance in aviation accidents. Mr. Goglia has been recognized many times for his contribution to aviation safety; awarding bodies include the National Air Disaster Alliance, Aviation Week and Space Technology, The Society of Automotive Engineers and the Air Transport Association (ATA). He currently serves on a number of Boards, including the Aviation Technical Training College in Singapore, and advises a number of organizations, including the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association.