Where Birds Don't Fly

The Safety Management System has always been integrated with aviation in one way or another since the first flight of 1903. At that time, safety was reactive and based on data and comprehension of the systems. As flying became more popular, more airplanes were built, and with more innovative uses of this new machine accidents happened. In the beginning flying was compared to birds and since the birds seems to do OK, a person should not have any issues or accidents. Over time that theory did not support data collected, A hazard is in the eyes of the beholder. since accidents happened. One step to eliminate accidents was to require that a pilot was trained and held a pilot license. Today, it would be ridiculous to accept a pilot without a license. However, it was not long ago when it was discovered that a person had flown for a major airline for several years without a license. As a flight instructor several years ago, a pilot, who had flown for years came and asked me if it was time for...

There are two ways of defining the Safety Management System safety policy. One is that the SMS policy is an overarching umbrella that everything else fits under. The other is that the safety policy is a Wheel of Spokes where every spoke, or person is supporting the wheel.  A safety policy a forward-looking guidance policy defining the safety culture. In a safety culture there is trust, learning, accountability and information sharing. When processes or expectations drift outside of the safety policy protection, the human factor behavior is no longer covered by the non-punitive policy. Some of the non-protected behaviors are illegal activity, negligence or willful misconduct. At first sight, including these behaviors, is common sense to anyone. However, at a second look, these behaviors raise the safety-bar to an unlimited safety level. Any enterprise applying the concept that illegal activity, negligence or willful misconduct is not protected by a non-punitive policy has abandoned ...