Safety Management Systems

A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures. As per ICAO requirements, service providers are responsible for establishing an SMS, which is accepted and overseen by their State.

Types of service providers

• Approved training organizations that are exposed to safety risks during the provision of their services
• Aircraft operators
• Approved maintenance organizations
• Organizations responsible for type design and/or manufacture of aircraft
• Air traffic services providers 
• Certified aerodromes

Under the requirements, the service provider must implement an SMS accepted by their State that, as a minimum

• Identifies safety hazards
• Ensures that remedial action necessary to maintain an acceptable level of safety is implemented
• Provides for continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the safety level achieved
• Aims to make continuous improvement to the overall level of safety

Alongside the ICAO requirements, SMS requirements have been incorporated into the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).

SMS Tools

IATA has also developed the Integrated Airline Management System toolkit, which provides airlines with the fundamental guidelines to implement management systems for each operational function, as required by IOSA Standards and recommended practices.

IATA also offers SMS training courses for both airlines and regulators.

For further information concerning IATA’s SMS initiatives, please contact us at sms@iata.org