News
SMS tool kit to assist operators address mandatory regulatory requirements

April 16, 2008, Montreal – Business aviation associations from around
the world have announced a new program to assist operators implement
Safety Management Systems (SMS). SMS is central to modern thinking in
aviation safety; it is being progressively introduced into regulations
in response to global standards set by the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO). The new Tool Kit will be of immediate interest to
commercial fixed-wing and rotary-wing operators, the first sectors to
be impacted by the new regulatory requirements.

The new SMS Tool Kit (SMS TK) builds on the industry’s successful “code
of practice”, the International Standard for Business Aircraft
Operations (IS-BAO) introduced in 2002. Rui Thomaz de Aquino, Chairman
of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), advised that
“given our long and positive experience with SMS over the past eight
years we can now provide assistance to operators who have not yet
introduced SMS into their operations”.

The new Tool Kit will assist both non-commercial and commercial
operators. Flight departments implementing the gold standard IS-BAO
program will find the SMS TK a valuable aid to optimize the safety
benefits. Commercial on-demand charter operators facing new regulatory
requirements will find that the Kit provides a step by step program for
implementing the new safety provision. Claude Probst, Head of
Regulations for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in briefings
to industry, advised that “we are implementing performance based rules
that state a requirement for an SMS, but we are leaving it to the
industry to develop the guidance material detailing how it is to be
done”.

Business aviation associations formed a group of safety specialists to
develop the stand-alone SMS TK to be responsive to rule requirements of
regulations from around the world. Aquino points out that “the Tool Kit
provides operators with a common sense and systematic methodology”.
Associations continue to encourage operators to implement the
successful gold standard IS-BAO, but for those operators who wish only
to implement SMS to satisfy regulations, the Tool Kit will provide the
guidance. The program is planned to be available to operators in
October 2008.

Chairman Aquino concludes that the SMS TK “will give operators the
guidance they need to not only satisfy new regulatory requirements but
to fully benefit from the considerable safety benefits inherent in SMS
programs”.

“This is a perfect example of how the professional associations can
support members in delivering safety and meeting regulatory
requirements by taking advantage of best practice available across the
industry”, added Eric Mandemaker CEO of EBAA. “We are delighted to be
working with IBAC on this important initiative to enable members to do
this as effectively and affordably as possible.”