What Is a Safety Policy in Aviation SMS?
Understanding Safety Policy
In aviation SMS, a safety policy is a set of organizational policies and procedures that establishes clear roles, responsibilities, and relationships to achieve safety objectives. As a critical component of Phase 1 SMS implementation, it translates high-level safety commitments into actionable procedures, ensuring compliance with oversight agencies like ICAO, FAA, or EASA. Unlike operational policies (e.g., maintenance protocols), safety policies focus on governance and accountability. SMS Pro’s Management of Change tool simplifies policy creation and enforcement, saving 20–30 hours/month and reducing compliance costs by $10,000–$50,000 annually, as seen in implementations at regional airlines and airports.
Objectives of Safety Policy
The primary objective of a safety policy is to define the policies, procedures, and organizational structures needed to ensure continued safety in aviation operations. It provides a framework for:
Policies must be translated into enforceable procedures with organizational controls, ensuring compliance and fostering a safety culture, as demonstrated by FBOs increasing reporting by 56% with SMS Pro’s Safety Newsletters.
Key Requirements of Safety Policy
A safety policy must clearly define and document:
- Policy Development: Crafting statements of commitment, such as CEO endorsements, using SMS Pro’s policy templates.
- Procedure Implementation: Translating policies into actionable steps, like emergency response plans, supported by Risk Analysis Charts.
- Organizational Controls: Enforcing policies through accountability measures, tracked via Issue Reporting.
- Documentation and Maintenance: Ensuring policies are accessible and updated, managed by SMS Pro’s Management of Change.
These requirements align with oversight agency guidelines (e.g., FAA, EASA), reducing audit findings by 30%, as seen in airlines using SMS Pro’s tools.
SMS Pro: Streamlining Safety Policy Management
SMS Pro, developed by NorthWest Data Solutions, offers industry-leading web-based tools to construct, document, and communicate safety policies. The Implementation Management System, Management of Change, and Safety Promotion System ensure compliance with FAA, EASA, and ICAO standards, reducing policy 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 policy tools made defining roles and responsibilities a breeze, ensuring ICAO compliance in weeks.”
— Sarah Johnson, Safety Manager, Regional Airline
“The Management of Change tool streamlined our safety policy enforcement, saving $12,000 in compliance costs.”
— Mike Reynolds, Airport Safety Director
“SMS Pro’s Safety Promotion System communicated our policies effectively, boosting reporting by 50%.”
— Linda Carter, FBO Safety Coordinator
“As an Australian operator, SMS Pro’s tools ensured our safety policy met global standards seamlessly.”
— Australian Operator
Trusted by over 450 aviation organizations. See more customer reviews.
Aviation SMS Safety Policy Modules
The Safety Policy element also requires organizations to ensure that employees understand their roles with the SMS program. SMS Pro has an SMS Induction Manager module that assists managers to document and communicate these requirements.