Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS): airline sms implementation

Showing posts with label airline sms implementation. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Implementing Aviation Safety Management Systems

Aviation Safety Management Systems Implementation

An aviation safety management system (SMS) encourages airlines and airports to continuously improve safety performance. Aviation safety management systems can be viewed as repeating cycles. Airlines or airports first commit to a safety policy, then uses their safety policy as a basis for establishing a plan, which sets objectives and targets for improving safety performance. The next step is implementation. After that, airlines and airports evaluate safety performance to determine whether goals and objectives are being met. When objectives are not met, corrective actions must be implemented. The results of the internal audit evaluation are then reviewed by top management to determine whether the SMS is functioning as designed. Management revisits the safety policy and sets new targets in a revised plan. Airlines and airports then implement their revised plan. The cycle repeats, and continuous improvement occurs.

The five main stages of an aviation SMS, can be described as:

1. Commitment and Policy of Aviation Safety Management Systems

Top management commits to safety improvement and establishes an aviation safety policy. The aviation safety policy is the foundation of the airline and airports' SMS program.

2. Planning Successful Aviation Safety Management Systems

Airlines and airports first identify safety gaps and aspects of its operations using an industry accepted gap

analysis model. Safety aspects are those items, such as bird strikes or lost time injuries, that can have negative impacts on people, assets or the environment. Airlines and airports then determine which aspects are significant by choosing criteria considered most important and identify these aspects as their key performance indicators, also known as safety performance indicators. For example, an airline may choose employee lost time injuries, customer complaints, bird strikes, mission delays, and cost as its criteria. Once significant safety aspects are determined, airlines and airports establish objectives. Objectives are measurable safety goals (e.g., minimize customer injuries by 20%). The final part of the planning stage is devising an action plan for meeting the objectives. This includes designating responsibilities, establishing a schedule, and outlining clearly defined steps to meet the objectives.

3. Implementation of a Successful Aviation Safety Management System

Airlines and airports follow through with the action plan using the necessary resources (human, financial, etc.). An important component is employee training and awareness for all employees. Other steps in the implementation stage include documentation, following operating procedures, and setting up internal and external communication lines.

4. Evaluation of Aviation Safety Management Systems

Airlines and airports continuously monitor operations to evaluate whether objectives are being met. If not, the operator takes corrective action.

5. Review of Aviation Safety Management Systems

Top management reviews the results of the evaluation to ensure whether the aviation SMS is working. Management determines whether the original safety policy is consistent with the airline or airport's values. The plan may be revised to optimize the effectiveness of the SMS. The review stage creates a loop of continuous improvement for airlines and airports.

Additional Information on Aviation Safety Management Systems

Aviation SMS Implementation Plan Manager

Five Reasons Aviation SMS Implementations Fail

How To Implement Aviation Safety Management System Software

Overcoming Aviation SMS Data Management Challenges

3 Common Aviation SMS Implementation Mistakes

Vendor Management in Early Stages of Aviation SMS Implementation

About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Avoid 8 Common Mistakes in Aviation SMS Implementations

Eight Common Mistakes in Aviation SMS Implementations

Implementing an aviation SMS program can be a complex undertaking, often taking three to five years to complete. However it does not mean that your SMS implementation will have little chance of succeeding, or even struggle. SMS Pro has a large network of aviation SMS consulting companies with extensive experience in managing complex SMS implementations. Each of these SMS consultants are committed to providing customers, partners, and interested parties with their expertise in every way possible.

aviation safety management system SMS software implementation

NorthWest Data Solutions develops and supports SMS Pro, the popular Web-based aviation safety management software. We've found the best way to manage endless amounts of aviation safety related data is through a centralized database using a Web interface. The Web interface securely allows for iPad, iPhone, desktop, laptop access to your aviation SMS data.

Here are eight of most common mistakes made during SMS implementations.

1) Inadequate SMS Requirements Review

Most safety managers are very conscientious and jump right into the task head first. They start reading ICAO, FAA, Transport Canada, CASA, EASA documentation about "What is an Aviation Safety Management System." Casually, (often mentally) they think about their existing business processes as they review the civil aviation authorities' documentation. These reviews are frequently inadequate and much of this SMS documentation contains only the SMS components and elements' definitions.

While the CAA documentation is a good start, it is recommended that a gap analysis be performed followed by creating the SMS implementation plan. To be effective, the SMS implementation plan must contain adequately defined objectives, realistic implementation schedules, required resources and roles and responsibilities of the SMS implementation team.

Lesson Learned: The gap analysis and SMS implementation plan exercise provides an excellent learning and planning resource for the SMS implementation team. SMS Pro has exceptional gap analysis and SMS implementation plan software tools. Starting at $100 monthly, SMS Pro's suite of aviation SMS software tools is enough for airlines and airports of all sizes.

2) Failure to Set Realistic Expectations

Communicate Exceptions!

Aviation SMS implementations often ignore or fail to set proper expectations at all levels of the organization. Realistic expectations can only be set by having adequate understanding of all of the major technologies and processes involved. This understanding takes us back to the gap analysis and SMS implementation plan previously mentioned.

Lesson Learned: Expectations are best managed by communication. Regular reviews to managers on SMS implementation progress is important. When schedules slip, don't keep this information hidden or take this as a personal indicator that you failed. Almost every SMS implementation has schedule slippage. In fact, I've never seen one that followed the schedule perfectly. Remember, life happens. Environmental influences challenge managers' abilities to implement an aviation SMS program with finite resources.

3) Risk Planning Not Integrated Into SMS Implementation Plan

Incorporating risk plans within airline or airport's overall SMS implementation plan remains vital to the success of SMS implementation projects. Most SMS implementations, especially at small to mid-size airlines and airports, exclude risk planning. This is perhaps because safety managers are pilots, mechanics, etc., and performing safety manager tasks as an additional "duty." Furthermore, they are not commonly trained to manage long-term, multi-year projects. As a result, many safety managers fail to meet SMS implementation plan schedules simply because they neglected to conduct and factor in the "what if" scenarios.

4) Insufficient Resources Available to Airline/Airport Safety Team

aviation safety management system SMS software implementation airlines, airports fbos, mros, flight schools, amos

Many aviation SMS implementations underestimate resources required for successful SMS implementations on this multi-year project. Both human and financial resources are usually insufficient. Most often underestimated is required availability of functional and business users as they are repeatedly called to perform on safety review committees, attend initial and recurring SMS training, or learn new software technologies to manage mountains of available SMS data.

Lesson Learned: SMS programs generate heaps of useful data. Aggregating and analyzing data is a requirement in Safety Assurance activities of safety management systems. Without proper tools, safety managers are unable to perform their required tasks. We've seen safety managers spend weeks preparing reports that should have been available with the click of a mouse. Aviation SMS software tools save time and money. SMS software tools are often the cheapest component in implementing a successful aviation SMS program.

If you are not generating data, you have not successfully implemented your SMS program.

5) Unrealistic SMS Implementation Plan Schedule

One of the most common mistakes found in almost every SMS implementation plan schedule is setting of unrealistic SMS implementation dates. In many cases, end dates are chosen before the entire SMS implementation plan has been developed. Consequently, when SMS implementation plans are being scheduled, they must logically fit into an arbitrarily chosen time line. Optimistic safety managers will often think they can do the entire project in two years. After all, they are over-achievers. What they often neglect to account is that they are moving an entire organization and their airline or airport is naturally resisting change every step of the way.

Working toward end dates based on activity estimates will help provide you with more accurate estimates. Remember, review the entire scope of your SMS implementation and understand the requirements before pulling a fixed number from the air, such as two years, three years, ect. There are many aviation SMS activities that can be tackled simultaneously, such as implementing hazard reporting systems, drafting policies and procedures, composing duties & requirements of key safety personnel, initial training...

6) Inadequate Aviation SMS Specific Training

Adequate aviation SMS training is vital to the success of your airline or airport's SMS implementation. Aviation SMS training is often too short, too broad or improperly conducted. Proper aviation SMS related training leads to higher support and acceptance across the entire airline or airport employee base, ranging from line workers all the way up to top management. Proper training remains one of the most important aspects of successful SMS implementations.

7) Insufficient Internal Auditing and Review

Every aviation SMS implementation activity requires some degree of testing to ensure regulatory requirements are met. However, a common mistake is to perform an internal audit of the airline or airport SMS implementation by members familiar with the safety program. A best practice is to have your SMS implementation reviewed by a third party, whether it is an IS-BAO auditor, client auditor or the civil aviation authority auditor. If you are waiting for the CAA auditor to review your SMS implementation, I think there may be a more proactive approach to determine whether your airline or airport is adequately implementing your SMS program.

8) Inadequate SMS Data Collection and Conversion Plans

Collecting and converting aviation safety data from existing systems is often started too late and lacks any plan to ensure accuracy of the data. The plan must be developed early and there must be a focus on accuracy. The sooner you get this done, the more value your airline or airport will derive from reports. This item only applies if you are upgrading your aviation SMS software to modern software based on best practices. As an example, MS Excel and FileMaker Pro are not recommended platforms for managing years worth of aviation SMS data.

How to best help your
Aviation Safety Management System

Become an SMS PRO

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Five Reasons Aviation SMS Implementations Fail

Implementing SMS Programs in Airlines & Airports is Risky Business

Statistically speaking, your airline or airport runs significant risk to successfully implement an aviation safety management system (SMS). Empirical evidence shows that a high percentage of aviation SMS programs have failed to meet company expectations. We see between 20 to 30% of SMS implementations don't live up to top management expectations. This is not to say that these SMS implementations were complete failures. Usually, every SMS program delivered benefits, but still left many users or regulatory auditors unsatisfied with the implementation.

What Goes Wrong With Aviation SMS Implementations?

What went wrong with their SMS implementations? These five elements keep appearing repeatedly as we observe many SMS implementations in airlines and airports around the world.

aviation safety management software implementation

Lack of proper planning;
Lack of buy-in from users (or upper management);
Misdirected focus on SMS concepts as technology rather than business cultural shifts;
Inadequate training; and
Selecting the wrong aviation SMS software system.

Evaluating Aviation Safety Management Software Now?

If you are currently evaluating aviation SMS software solutions, you should be paying attention. If you are in the middle of implementing your aviation SMS program, you can still benefit from this discussion.

Five Reasons Aviation SMS Implementations Fail

Let's discuss these five common reasons that airline and airport safety management systems don't live up to everyone's expectations.

1) Aviation SMS Planning

a. Failure to develop a strategy that includes clear, concrete, managable and measurable goals.
Understand where you are going and start with a road map. A gap analysis followed by an industry accepted SMS implementation plan is imperative. Choose the gap analysis model that fits your operation. Once you understand your shortcomings, come up with a plan to completely implement the SMS program.

b. Failure to adapt business processes to comply with SMS regulatory requirements.
To make your SMS program work, you will need to ensure that your business processes change to effect compliance. This is accompanied by a cultural mind-shift and these processes must be driven downward from upper management.

c. Failure to capitalize on other opportunities.
Implementing an SMS into your airline or airport can present opportunities to save money and improve business processes. An often overlooked strategy is using your SMS program to include security, quality, compliance and environmental components. Furthermore, these other opportunities expand your chances of producing a win in other areas of operations.

2) Lack of buy-in from all stakeholders.

a. Starting with upper management, your system will fail when employees perceive upper management does not support the aviation SMS implementation. Visible support includes:
1) Appearance and participation in safety events;
2) Ensuring adequate budget exists for safety tools (including software);
3) Ensuring staff has adequate training; and
4) Allowing safety manager direct access to upper management.

3) Focus SMS implementation as a change management exercise.

You are changing the attitudes and behaviors of aviation professionals who have been doing it "the old way" for many years. Change requires committed, high-energy change managers that have excellent people skills.

4) Inadequate training and support - pre and post-implementation

a. Identify employees who will ineract in varying capacities with the SMS "system." Ensure they get the proper level of training based on their roles, such as end users, department heads, internal auditors, administrators.

b. When necessary, implement continuous training programs to accommodate changes in the aviation SMS program. Also implement more advanced training as the SMS program matures.

5) Choosing the wrong aviation SMS software system

a. Each aviation safety management software program is unique. Most are designed for simple hazard reporting and risk management. Realize that implementing a complete aviation SMS program will likely require two to five years and never stops evolving.

b.Ensure the aviation SMS software you choose has all the elements necessary to facilitate regulatory compliance, including:
1) Hazard/incident Reporting
2) Policy Management
3) Documentation Management
4) Risk Management
5) Hazard Analysis and Risk Register
6) Continuous Monitoring
7) Safety Promotion Tools (Safety Surveys, Newsletters, Meeting Management, etc)

The above list is not exhaustive. To learn more about what constitutes a very complete aviation safety management system, see http://asms-pro.com/SMS.aspx

How to best help your
Aviation Safety Management System

Become an SMS PRO

Monday, April 1, 2013

How To Implement Aviation Safety Management System Software

Implemention of Aviation Safety Management System Software

Deciding on Aviation Safety Management Software

aviation safety management system implementation

Effecting a Safety Management System(SMS) in your firm necessitates the commitment of the management and staff, a thorough gap analysis and culture rating, and a succinct documentation of processes. Good aviation safety management system (SMS) tools are available to make your chore more manageable.

From the onset, management commitment and a clear and precise company policy are important. Once supervisors have a detailed understanding of the needed components for an effective aviation SMS, it is a piece of cake to draft an outline plan for its practice.

Notwithstanding it is indispensable that executives dedicate themselves to aviation safety, it is proportionately imperative that employees feel they possess the blessing of the management that respects their feedback and is responsive to their contributions and ideas. All staff should possess the opportunity to contribute to the development and usage of the aviation SMS and have confidence in the risk assessment and mitigation solution processes that are applied. Appreciate the weight of exploring their safety concerns at the beginning. Encourage minority reports and theories.

Obtaining Top Management Support For Aviation Safety Management Software

After your establishment enjoys head office commitment and is available to implement the aviation SMS, identify what important components and elements are already existing, and discover the pieces that are missing. This process is called a gap analysis and is a popular approach to explore the areas that will require to be attended to. In an existing establishment, a great deal of the aviation SMS functions may already be implemented.

Of equal importance to the gap analysis, is the culture rating, which is the level of the safety culture of the firm. This can be performed through surveys and interviews and is probably better performed through a third party that can objectively analyze and present the determination.

Having completed a gap analysis and a culture determination, it is needed to ensure the effective functioning of authorized arrangements. Specifically, the company's safety event reporting process has to run competently and all employees need to be encouraged to incorporate the process as much as possible.

While the actions involved during the process to actualizing an effective aviation SMS are very logical and simple to follow, they can be fairly time consuming and manpower intensive at the beginning. Your association may require some outside help. While this could be helpful, the determination of the source of external help must be made very carefully.

The objective of any organization in putting into action an effective aviation SMS manual. Put these actions into the manuals and policies only the basics of what your organization must do to function. Nothing more! Only those tasks or actions and associated documentation that are required to make the aviation SMS effective should be added. And get a good aviation SMS tool with hazard reporting and managing tool to make your job easier. There is a very good Anchorage, Alaska website design and development that makes a quality aviation SMS tool that every aviation service provider should adopt.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Overcoming Aviation SMS Data Management Challenges

How to Overcome Aviation SMS Data Management Challenges

Aviation safety managers at airlines and airports must do an incredible amount of work to implement an effective aviation safety management system (SMS). Safety managers must:

Coordinate aviation safety policies;
Make sure that historical copies of aviation SMS policies exist (version control);
Ensure everyone knows their SMS duties and responsibilities in the organization; manage risk;
Communicate & promote safety, security, quality and compliance issues;
Manage identified and perceived risk;

Airlines & Airport Have SMS Data Management Issues

Document all risk management activities...

and the list goes on and on.

Airline and airport safety managers are hard conscientious workers. Most have the "I can do it" attitude and are very enthusiastic, energetic employees. Once safety managers start trying to comply with the aviation SMS requirements that stem from ICAO guidelines, they realize the quandary that is almost always lost on upper management.

Quandary of Effective, Well Implemented Aviation Safety Management Systems

An effective SMS generates a lot of data and can be difficult to organize coherently. When aviation SMS data are not managed properly, airlines and airports will lose monetary benefits that others with well-planned and implemented aviation safety management systems are realizing. Plain and simple. Money will be lost and service quality will not improve at an optimal rate. Not only will loss of money result from a poorly designed and implemented aviation safety management system, but also the potential competitive advantage that comes with orderly SMS data management strategies.

Expert Aviation SMS Data Systems

Safety managers are not data management experts. Therefore, safety managers need tools to perform their tasks in a timely, professional manner. Upper management must support safety managers' case for tools. After all, aircraft mechanics cannot perform aviation maintenance activities without the proper tools, so why would upper management believe that safety managers can manage complex aviation safety management systems using MS Word, paper, MS Access and spreadsheets?

How to Gain Top Management Support for Expert Aviation SMS Systems

Aviation SMS Systems Generate Lots of Data

Upper management must be educated in the momentous task given to safety managers. An aviation safety management system is not implemented overnight. Often, three to five years are required to fully implement an effective SMS program. To further safety managers' cause, safety managers need something to give to upper management to support their cause for tools that assist in more effective SMS data management strategies...such as a high-level SMS Architectural diagram. An effective technique outlines the existing operation and compares it with the optimal solution so top management can compare and draw their own conclusions.

Major Problem With Most Aviation SMS Implementations

A major problem with the majority of SMS implementations is that they are being implemented by "safety experts" who are not data management experts. We don't mean to denigrate these aviation safety professionals. Most are very good as subject matter experts, but their subject matter expertise is not aviation SMS data management principles. NorthWest Data Solutions in Anchorage, Alaska has a team of aviation safety data management experts that have become world-renown safety experts with the design, development and support of SMS Pro, a Web based aviation safety management software program. NWDS provides airlines, airports, aviation maintenance, FBOs and flight schools with tools to show management how many organizations are configuring their SMS systems. These tools will show upper management the pitfalls and make them aware of the corner they may be backing themselves into.

Three Common Approaches to Implementing Aviation SMS Data Programs

NWDS witnesses three SMS data management architectures being implemented in everyday consulting and speaking with aviation service providers:

Decentralized;
Centralized; and
Hybrid.

Small Companies Mostly Use Decentarized SMS Data Management Strategies

The decentralized SMS data management strategy is very common technological approach found in smaller organizations with fewer than 100 employees. An aviation SMS data management architectural diagram may be found at http://www.airlineairport.aviation-sms.com/AboutSMS/WhyDoWeNeedSMS.aspx

Preferred Centralized Aviation SMS Data Management

The second approach is the centralized aviation SMS data management approach. An illustration of the centralized aviation SMS data management strategy, which is the companion to the decentralized version can be downloaded at http://www.airlineairport.aviation-sms.com/AboutSMS/AviationSMSSolution.aspx. The Centralized SMS Data Management Approach is the preferred method for many reasons, which we will cover in great detail in future blog posts. For now, understand that your organization will receive REAL sustainable value after implementing a centralized system.

Benefits of Centralized Aviation SMS Data Management

Among the benefits of the centralized approach are:

Save time and money having all your data in one location for everyone with proper authority to access the data. Users don't have to hunt and ask, "Who has the last OIR?" Data are located in one location, so backing up the data is easier, more efficient and less expensive.
Enhanced security: Your data requires security to be applied at one location instead of at many. Security may be applied by roles or by individual permissions.

SMS Pro is a centralized SMS data management tool that will allow your organization to continue to realize monetary benefits year after year.

Aviation SMS Data Management Experts to Help!

SMS Pro allows for the entire organization to collaborate and communicate effectively using the same data.

Reports are available to everyone with permissions.

Auditors can easily see the information to make their tasks easier and managers can see real-time reports with the utmost ease to identify trends and manage organizational safety, security, quality and compliance issues.

SMS Pro is available for airports, airlines, helicopter operators, flight schools, air traffic control and MROs.

When you purchase SMS Pro, NWDS' friendly staff efficiently guides you step by step during the implementation phases.

If you need help with your aviation SMS implementation, an SMS Partner is always available. SMS Pro has a network of SMS Partners around the globe.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

3 Common Aviation SMS Implmentation Mistakes

3 Most Common SMS Implementation Mistakes

You have received top management commitment for your aviation safety management system (SMS) implementation and you are eager to get going. You start cranking out your manual, setup your hazard reporting system to allow all employees report aviation-related incidents and accidents, and perhaps do some training.

Aviation SMS Gap Analysis Checklists Included

Most aviation safety officers (or managers if you prefer) are very qualified, hard-working, educated folks. However, these are some common mistakes, or misdirected SMS implementation tactics, I've observed as we have worked with hundreds of airlines, airports, MROs and FBOs in their aviation SMS implementation projects.

1) Not Completing an Initial Gap Analysis

When you start on a journey to unknown territories, such as a trip to the Bahamas, you usually look for a map or information about how to get to your final destination. You may also look for items you need to bring on your trip, such as bathing shorts, suntan lotion, etc. Are there any visa requirements or anything else that you need before taking off on your journey. The more organized of us make a checklist. My wife will even make an MS Excel spreadsheet so she doesn't forget anything when we go sea kayaking in Prince William Sound or take a Hawaiian vacation where we camp for weeks at a time.

Along the same thread, safety managers should be doing a gap analysis when they begin their SMS implementation. There are many maps (models) available. For example, the FAA, Transport Canada, ICAO, IS-BAO and CASA models are among the most popular. SMS Pro has most of these models built in, so you can modify your map (or checklist) to suite your operations. If you only want the aviation SMS gap analysis checklists without using SMS Pro, they are free gap analysis checklist listed here.

The gap analysis is going to teach you what is required for your aviation SMS implementation. This serves are your map and your checklist to get your your tropical vacation. It is never too late to conduct your gap analysis.

2) Not Conducting a Follow-up Gap Analysis on Regular Basis

The second common SMS implementation mistake I see frequently stems from the first. For those airlines and airports implementing their aviation safety management systems, they don't perform regular followups. The most common reason the gap analysis is overlooked or purposefully neglected is because IT IS WORK! Trying to manage a gap analysis using a checklist is hard work. You have to:

Go through the gap analysis checklist and answer questions as to what you have and don't;
Find subject matter experts in the organization that can help with their areas;
Manage corrective actions stemming from shortcomings (assign & followup);
Repeat regularly (annually is prefered).

Doing all this work using an MS Excel spreadsheet, email and MS Word to document (or paper), this turns into a brutal exercise. No wonder operators shudder when they think of this task. There must be an easier way. Don't worry, there is. You can read more about the aviation SMS gap analysis with built in checklists here.

Conducting a regular gap analysis will demonstrate continuous improvement. This is an easy task to sing your improvements to management and to your aviation SMS auditors. If you haven't made any progress, then you are probably among the hundreds of companies are don't want to advertise this and put it on paper. In this case, you could probably use a Web based aviation safety management software system to make your tasks easier. These systems are not expensive and can save you considerable time and money implementing your aviation SMS program.

3) Not Creating an Aviation SMS Implementation Plan

Some operators skip the gap analysis and head straight for the aviation SMS implementation plan. They may read ICAO Document 9859, or the SMS Safety Assurance Guide put out by the FAA, or Transport Canada documentation and copy the SMS implementation plan to a spreadsheet. This is not a bad tactic, but most SMS implementation plans don't go into much detail. There is an exception to the above observation: IS-BAO gap analysis is weak, while their SMS implementation plan is outstanding!

A recommended SMS implementation strategy for aviation safety managers is to conduct your gap analysis so you can identify your problem areas, and then create your plan to satisfy your shortcomings. This plan can start with the ICAO, FAA, Transport Canada or IS-BAO SMS implementation plan. But you should extend it to include the elements in your gap analysis that were identified as shortcomings.

Why don't safety managers create an SMS implementation plan? Simplest answer is lack of time. Most safety managers are working other jobs, such as pilot, line mechanic, etc. Finding time to do their regularly required duties and perform as a safety manager requires considerable effort, especially when it takes considerable effort to learn the aviation SMS requirements. Other answers may include lack of training for organizing projects (lack of project management training) or seeming lack of importance (commitment) from upper manager.

The SMS implementation plan is typically composed of the elements in a phased SMS implementation. Each element should have a targeted start and finish date. More sophisticated SMS implementation plans are laid out in MS Project Gantt charts, but this is not really necessary unless you have extra time.

Your SMS implementation plan will serve your as your road map and timeline for your SMS implementation. Don't be discouraged if you don't meet your goals for implementing certain elements. The important thing to remember is that you are working on it, and your goals are documented using your SMS implementation plan.