How to Create Safety Policies & Procedures in Aviation SMS

Creating safety policies and procedures is a foundational step in aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS), ensuring compliance with ICAO Annex 19 and fostering a robust safety culture. Trusted by over 450 airlines, airports, and FBOs, SMS Pro simplifies this process with tools like the Implementation Management System and Management of Change, reducing policy development time by 40%. See what our customers say.

Understanding Safety Policies and Procedures

Safety policies and procedures in aviation SMS programs establish the framework for safe operations, defining commitments, roles, and processes to meet compliance requirements from agencies like ICAO, FAA, and EASA. Policies articulate high-level safety commitments, while procedures outline specific processes, such as hazard reporting. With clear guidance from compliance authorities, creating these documents is straightforward. SMS Pro’s Management of Change and Implementation Management System streamline development, saving 20–30 hours/month and reducing compliance costs by $10,000–$50,000 annually, as seen in implementations at regional airlines and airports.

Core Safety Policies

Aviation SMS programs require specific safety policies to ensure compliance and clarity. Core policies, as guided by authorities like the FAA, include:

  • CEO Commitment to Safety: A leadership pledge to prioritize safety, documented via SMS Pro’s Implementation Management.
  • Non-Punitive Reporting Policy: Encouraging hazard reporting without fear, supported by SMS Pro’s Issue Reporting.
  • Mandatory and Voluntary Issues to Report: Defining reportable events, tracked with Public Issue Reporting.
  • Disciplinary Action Policy: Outlining consequences for violations, managed through Management of Change.
  • All-Employee SMS Interactions: Mandating duties like hazard reporting, reinforced by Safety Newsletters.
  • Initial and Recurrent Training Policy: Ensuring ongoing education, supported by SMS Pro’s Training Management.

These policies align with Safety Policy requirements, reducing audit findings by 30%, as seen in FBOs using SMS Pro.

Core Safety Procedures

Safety procedures outline critical SMS processes, ensuring consistency and clarity. Key procedures include:

These procedures, documented with SMS Pro’s tools, ensure operational efficiency and compliance, as evidenced by airlines streamlining hazard processing.

Steps to Create Safety Policies and Procedures

The process for creating safety policies and procedures is systematic and guided by compliance requirements:

  • Review Compliance Requirements: Study ICAO, FAA, or EASA guidelines, supported by SMS Pro’s Implementation Management.
  • Obtain Templates: Use agency-provided or SMS Pro templates to draft policies, ensuring alignment with Safety Risk Management.
  • Write Policies: Develop clear policies, like non-punitive reporting, using SMS Pro’s Management of Change.
  • Review Existing Processes: Assess current SMS processes, such as hazard reporting, with Hazard/Risk Registers.
  • Review Safety-Critical Tasks: Identify tasks like audits, supported by KPI Trend Monitoring.
  • Outline Process Steps: Create basic steps for each process, ensuring clarity for newcomers, using SMS Pro’s documentation tools.
  • Add Detailed Instructions: Flesh out outlines with specifics, ensuring accessibility, managed by Safety Assurance System.

These steps, facilitated by SMS Pro, ensure policies and procedures are compliant and effective, as seen in airports completing policy development in weeks.

Communicating Policies and Procedures

Effective communication is critical to ensure policies and procedures are understood and followed:

SMS Pro’s tools increase engagement by 56%, ensuring policies are practiced, as demonstrated by FBOs achieving compliance with robust communication.

SMS Pro: Your Policy and Procedure Solution

SMS Pro, developed by NorthWest Data Solutions, empowers aviation organizations to create and manage safety policies and procedures. Tools like Implementation Management, Management of Change, and Safety Promotion System ensure compliance with FAA, EASA, and ICAO standards, reducing development time by 40%. Scalable for teams of 1 to over 500, with plans starting at $0/month, SMS Pro is trusted by 450+ organizations worldwide. Explore pricing plans to find the perfect fit.

What Our Customers Say

“SMS Pro’s tools simplified our safety policy creation, ensuring ICAO compliance in weeks.”
— Tom Nguyen, Safety Manager, Regional Airline
“The Management of Change tool streamlined our procedures, saving $12,000 in compliance costs.”
— Rachel Lee, Airport Safety Director
“SMS Pro’s Safety Newsletters communicated our policies effectively, boosting engagement by 50%.”
— Paul Schmidt, FBO Safety Coordinator
“As a New Zealand operator, SMS Pro’s tools ensured our policies met global standards seamlessly.”
— New Zealand Operator

Trusted by over 450 aviation organizations. See more customer reviews.

Build Your Safety Framework with SMS Pro

Discover how SMS Pro can streamline your safety policy and procedure development. Schedule a Free Demo or Explore Pricing Plans today.

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