SCSI has been teaching SMS since 2002 and has tracked the changes and lessons learned as SMS has been implemented in aviation settings around the world. SCSI teaches based on the latest developments and guidelines published by ICAO and the various regulatory agencies. This course is based on the latest ICAO Safety Management manual (Doc 9859 3nd edition dated 2013 as approved in principle by the Secretary General and made available to the public) which supersedes the first edition published in 2009. It also supersedes the ICAO Accident Prevention Manual (Doc 9422), which is obsolete.
Starting in 2009, all member States of ICAO and all aviation service providers within those states must implement a safety management system that as a minimum:
According to ICAO, an SMS is defined as "a systematic approach to managing safety including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures."
If you are a regulator, an aircraft operator, a maintenance organization, an aircraft manufacturer, an air traffic services provider, or a certificated airport operator you MUST have an SMS in place.
The SMS must do the following things:
The challenge is how to accomplish these actions. ICAO has established a framework for an SMS that incorporates four basic components and 12 elements as shown here:
In the SMS Complete course you will be introduced to the basic concepts of safety and the modern approach to safety management. The course will take you through the process of planning and implementing an SMS by discussing each of the components and elements and showing how they fit in an SMS. You will learn what makes each element important and how to be sure it is efficient and effective.
A key part of the implementation of an SMS is the process of analyzing the organization's system to see which SMS components are already in place and which must be added or improved to meet defined SMS standards. This is commonly known as a Gap Analysis. SCSI through this course introduces you to a Gap Analysis and provides a detailed Gap Analysis tool for your use. This is a tool that encompasses all of the subjects in the recommended ICAO checklist but it goes beyond that to give you a set of grading criteria to help evaluate the significant areas for improvement. As a part of this course you can start your Gap Analysis and can continue it after course completion at home.
References for the SMS Complete course include
Many of these references as well as others will be provided in electronic format as a part of the SMS Toolkit included in the course.
Who Should Attend
Personnel assigned to safety and safety-related positions in an airline, an on-demand charter, an aerodrome, executive support airlift, a military flying activity, Aviation Maintenance organization, or a government regulatory body who may be new to safety or Safety Management Systems or to those who would like a comprehensive review of SMS fundamentals in order to review, evaluate, build, or improve upon a safety management plan. Attendees will be provided the information, knowledge, checklists and tools required to build, implement and manage a "world class safety program using the latest tools, techniques and processes."
How You will Benefit
Course Topics
During this course the topics listed will be presented by SCSI instructors in the classroom.
Basic Safety Concepts
An Introduction to Managing Safety
Dealing with Hazards
Safety Risks
Introducing Safety Management Systems
These SMS course topics form the basis for organizing this SMS course. For each organizational component in an SMS, instructors will define the component and then show how it applies to SMS with examples, illustrations, hands-on exercises, checklists, etc. The course focus is on the practical "how to do it" and what the content should look like when you are done. Most course topics will include a summary "hands-on" exercise to focus the topics covered.
Course Administration
The SMS Complete course consists of 4.5 training days (36 hours). Classroom participants receive lecture outlines, additional reference material, and a Certificate of Completion. PDF versions of all course material will be provided to participants in addition to the SMS Toolkit. Classroom classes begin at 0800 and end at noon on the last day.
Student feedback
"Instructor credibility was well established which gave weight to what was taught and contributes to increased attention span on the part of the student."
"The program is well oriented covering all the aspects of SMS and its effective implementation."
"A very informative course and will have immense value in future SMS implementation."
"Amazing job! Content presented as best as possible there’s so much. Presented wonderfully. Sad to go."