There’s a new way to understand what a safety management system (SMS) looks like in an aviation operation – through real people and real stories.
A new series of short case study videos published by CASA brings SMS to life. They feature organisations that have already built and embedded SMS into their operations.
Operators featured include Seair Pacific, Flight One Group, Royal Victorian Aero Club, TOLL Group and UNSW.
You can see how these operations have approached common challenges such as establishing reporting cultures, managing operational risk and embedding safety thinking into routine activities.
Each video, running between 3-5 minutes, focuses on one of the 4 core SMS components:
- safety policy and objectives
- safety risk management
- safety assurance
- safety promotion.
If you’re not sure where to begin, the videos are a helpful first step. They show that getting an SMS in place does not have to be complex or resource heavy, and you can build systems that grow with your organisation.
‘There’s no need to overcomplicate it. Start with the risks you know, involve your people and build from there,’ Peter Gash, Seair Pacific.
An (SMS) is a structured, organisation-wide approach to managing safety risk.
Rather than relying solely on compliance or reactive fixes, an SMS helps operators systematically identify hazards, assess risk and continuously improve safety performance.
‘Audits are a big part of our operations and across the organisation. This helps us project and plan to meet risks and challenges as they present themselves,’ Greg White, Flight One Group.
A common theme for aviation organisations of all sizes is the benefits of SMS are clear: better risk visibility, stronger safety culture and more informed operational decision-making.
‘SMS provides so many benefits for an organisation when managed effectively, such as improved functions and performance from a cost- benefit analysis through to your systems becoming more resilient,’ Cherie Love, CASA Senior Safety Programs Specialist.
You can watch all of the SMS videos on our YouTube channel.
