Safety Management Systems – Principles and Applications
Develop practical skills to elevate your SMS
BOOK NOWIN-COMPANY REQUEST
UK & Online: 2 days
Malaysia: 3 days
£1,150.00 GBP
Classroom & Online
London Gatwick & Malaysia
UK & Online: 09:00-17:00
Course Overview
Organisations across the aviation industry are required to have a Safety Management System in accordance with ICAO Annex 19. But what is a SMS, and how does it work?
This course provides an introduction to SMS, based on ICAO Annex 19 Standards and Recommended Practices and guidance on implementation as set out in ICAO Doc 9859 and included in EASA / UK regulations. On completing the course, you will have the skills required to develop, implement, manage, and assess a basic SMS.
The course draws on the ICAO Annex 19 SMS Framework, EASA / UK Safety Management Rules, and UK CAA SMS Guidance Material, along with experiences and observations from the UK CAA’s current oversight activities. The course is a combination of presentations, group discussion and practical exercises, delivered by UK CAA experts.
- Classroom courses in London Gatwick (2-days plus e-Learning) and Malaysia (3-days)
- Review the SMS framework and the key SMS components
- Explore the principles of a SMS, its benefits and challenges
- Master the skills to develop, implement, manage and assess a basic SMS
Choose Your Course Date
| Start Date | End Date | Venue | Price (Excl. VAT) | Availability | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/09/2025 | 10/09/2025 | Online | £1,150.00 | Fully booked | Book |
| 07/10/2025 | 08/10/2025 | London Gatwick | £1,150.00 | 5 places remaining | Book |
| 02/12/2025 | 03/12/2025 | Online | £1,150.00 | More than 5 places | Book |
| 03/02/2026 | 04/02/2026 | London Gatwick | £1,150.00 | More than 5 places | Book |
What are the Principles and Applications of a Safety Management System?
Safety Management Systems (SMS) in aviation are based on a set of principles (ICAO Annex 19 Safety Management and ICAO Doc. 9859 – Safety Management Manual) and applications (the purpose to which those principles are used) that aim to proactively manage and improve safety within the industry. The principles of SMS involve establishing a strong safety culture, identifying hazards and assessing risks, implementing risk mitigation strategies, and promoting continuous improvement. Applications of SMS include clear and effective safety policies and procedures, proactive hazard reporting and analysis, safety training and education programmes, safety performance monitoring, and the integration of safety considerations into all aspects of operations. By adhering to these principles and implementing these applications, aviation organisations can enhance safety, prevent accidents, and foster a proactive safety mindset among employees and stakeholders. SMS provides a structured approach to managing safety, aligning with international standards and regulatory requirements, and promoting the overall well-being of the aviation industry.
This course is suitable for individuals working in the Aviation Industry who require an introduction to Safety Management Systems to fulfil their role in contributing to safety.
This would include responsible managers, those responsible for aviation safety, safety risk management and compliance / quality across industry and regulatory personnel with a safety remit.
This training course will include the following topics:
- Overview of SMS
- Requirements for implementing, developing and maintaining an SMS
- The SMS regulatory framework – ICAO Annex 19 & Doc 9859, EASA and UK CAA regulations
- Policy and Objectives
- Risk Management
- Safety Assurance
- Safety Promotion and education
- Creating a positive safety culture
- Practical tools to actively engage in your SMS
- The regulator’s assessment of a basic SMS
By the end of this course delegates will demonstrate an understanding of:
- ICAO, EASA and UK CAA Safety management regulatory framework and how to apply these policies and principles into their working environment
- The value of an organisation having a SMS in place and the possible legal implications of not having one
- The importance of a positive safety culture
- The need for meaningful hazard identification and risk assessment to increase safety levels
Participants should be familiar with the aviation environment in the context of safety
Meet your Instructors
Marc Smith
Safety Management Systems – Principles and Applications
Introduction to Safety
Safety Management (Advanced) – Evaluating Effectiveness
Safety Management Systems Refresher Training
SMS for Managers – Leading on Aviation Safety
Leading on Aviation Safety Management
Marc joined the RAF in 1997 and served for 25 years as an Operations Officer across multiple fleets both in the UK and overseas.
He served in various safety management and safety oversight roles, including a secondment to the RAF Safety Centre, responsible for SMS oversight at deployed locations throughout the world. His last 3 postings saw him serve as Operations Officer and Air Safety Manager for 906 Expeditionary Wing at Al Minhad Airbase, UAE and then onto a similar joint role at the Fast Jet Training School based at RAF Linton on Ouse. His final posting was as Air System Safety Case Coordinator (ASSC) for the Hawk TMk1 and Air Safety Manager for the Red Arrows.
On leaving the RAF, he served as Air Safety Manager in the civilian aviation sector, becoming a Crew Resource Management Trainer. Returning to ASSC management for a time, with notable success in the coordination of the initial ASSC for the RAF’s Protector Mk 1 RPAS, that facilitated its first flight in UK airspace.
Marc is currently the SMS Programme Lead for the UK CAA, responsible for SMS Policy and Strategy across the UK. He also sits as a UK Advisor for SMS to the ICAO Safety Management Panel and the UK Member on the Safety Management International Collaboration Group.
David Campbell
Safety Management Systems – Introduction
Safety Management Systems – Principles and Applications
Safety Management Systems – Small Organisations
David has worked in Civil Aviation for 25 years, starting with a large Handling Agent at Manchester airport, followed by over 12 years for two large charter airlines working in Crew Logistics (Flight Time Limitations). David has been with the UK CAA for over 10 years auditing operators holding an Air Operator’s Certificate. David has been involved with Safety Management Systems (SMS) for 9 years. During that time he has overseen the implementation of SMS into the regulation and assessed many operators’ SMS for approval and as part of continued oversight. David has been delivering SMS Basic and Advanced courses for 6 years now both in the UK and overseas.
Simon Roberts
Human Performance & Human Factors for Airworthiness Organisations
Leading on Aviation Safety
Safety Management Systems – Introduction
Safety Management Systems – Principles and Applications
Safety Management (Advanced) – Evaluating Effectiveness
Safety Management Systems – Small Organisations
Just Culture for the Team
Just Culture for Responsible Managers
Root Cause Analysis
Safety and Human Factors Recurrent Training for Airworthiness Organisations
Simon has 40 years aviation experience working with airlines and aviation maintenance organisations. He has been working over 21 years for the UK CAA and during last 9 years he was responsible for the Safety Management System (SMS) policy and strategy across the UK CAA. He has led international projects for SMS and State Safety Programs (SSP) working with ICAO, EASA and other regulators. Simon is also a maintenance Human Factors specialist and co-chairs the EASA Human Factors Collaborative Analysis Group (CAG). Using his extensive experience, Simon has been instructing SMS and SSP training worldwide.
John Thomson
Implementing and Operating Safety Management Systems in Aviation
John Thomson is a highly respected aviation safety expert with over 30 years of experience spanning civil and military aviation. As a Senior Technical Advisor specialising in Safety Management for the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority International (CAAi), John brings a wealth of expertise from his previous roles, including:
• State Safety Programme Lead: Responsible for overseeing the UK National Aviation Safety Plan, ensuring compliance with ICAO Annex 19, the Global Aviation Safety Plan, and regional frameworks.
• Safety Assurance Specialist: Conducting internal reviews, fostering a learning culture, and analysing non-aviation accidents to derive lessons for the aviation industry.
• Safety Intelligence Manager: Leading a multidisciplinary team of intelligence analysts, ATS investigators, and transcription specialists to enhance safety outcomes through actionable intelligence.
John is a prominent figure on international aviation platforms. He represents the UK on the ICAO Safety Management Panel, the Global Aviation Safety Plan Study Group, and serves as Co-Chair of the ICAO European Regional Expert Safety Group. His contributions have helped shape global safety practices and foster international collaboration.
As a technical innovator, John has specialised in the lifecycle development of Big Data tools, utilising advanced technologies such as automation, robotics, and machine learning to enhance Safety Data Collection and Processing Systems (SDCPSs). He is also pioneering the use of virtual reality to visualise and simplify complex models, creating intuitive ways to improve understanding and decision-making.
With a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force and the Military Aviation Authority, John has developed and managed Safety Management Systems that facilitate collaboration and learning across diverse and dispersed teams.
Graham Wheeler
Safety Management Systems - Principles and Applications
Safety Management (Advanced) - Evaluating Effectiveness
Safety Management Systems Refresher Training
Advanced Safety Management Systems - Evaluating for Effectiveness - Virtual (Asia Region)
Root Cause Analysis
Airworthiness Accountable Manager & Nominated Person
Graham has over 38 years’ experience working in the Aviation industry, in areas of aircraft maintenance, production and quality oversight. He is a qualified aircraft maintenance engineer and lead quality auditor, spending several years overseeing the build of Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. Graham has been working for the UK CAA for the last 18 years as an Airworthiness Surveyor and in several managerial technical roles supporting the regulatory oversight of aviation and the UK CAA as a competent authority. He is now using his experience to help the development and sustainability of aviation safety globally.
Neil Gray
Safety Management Systems – Introduction
Safety Management Systems – Principles and Applications
Safety Management Systems – Small Organisations
Aerodrome Accountable Manager and Nominated Person
Neil is a Principal Aerodrome Inspector in the UK CAA. He leads a team of Inspectors whose role is to oversee the compliance and safety performance of the UK aerodrome operators with International, European and UK standards, with particular focus on Safety Management Systems (SMS).
Neil is the UK CAA’s focal point for the SMS, he has been instrumental in the development of the UK CAA’s SMS evaluation process, and he took a lead role in a programme that evaluates the suitability and effectiveness of SMS at all UK certificated aerodromes.
Additional Information
Course delivery methods
We offer two different ways to attend this course:
- Face-to-Face Classroom Course: Embrace the traditional learning method by attending our physical training venue. Benefit from direct interaction with our instructors and fellow participants, creating an immersive and hands-on learning experience. To book a classroom course, please check the booking table at the top of this page and select your preferred training venue location.
- Instructor-Led Virtual Course: Enjoy the flexibility of attending this training remotely from your home or office with our live virtual course. Engage in interactive learning from anywhere in the world. We deliver our virtual courses via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex. Once your booking is confirmed, we will notify you of the platform on which your selected course will be hosted. To attend this course virtually, look for the ‘online’ venue option in the booking table above.
Please note that course durations may vary slightly between our face-to-face and virtual deliveries. Please refer to the start and end date of your chosen course.
Our goal is to offer flexible, effective and convenient course delivery methods that suit your preferences and learning needs. Please choose the option that works best for you!
If you can’t see a classroom or virtual option, we likely haven’t released the next set of dates. Please get in touch to find out when we’ll announce the new dates, and we’ll be sure to keep you informed once they are available or even add you to our waiting list.
Further reading
UK CAA CAP 795 Safety Management Systems (SMS) Guidance for Organisations
This document provides guidance on the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS). It has been developed to give sufficient understanding of SMS concepts to implement and maintain an effective SMS. It reflects and meets the requirements of ICAO Annex 19 and EASA Management System Implementing Rules.
In-company delivery
We can also tailor this training course to suit your organisation’s training requirements. These bespoke training packages can be delivered at your organisation’s location – almost anywhere, worldwide. Please Contact us for more information and to discuss your requirements.
VAT information
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FAQs
To help make your decision about booking training with CAAi, we have put together a list of frequently asked questions.
If your question isn’t answered, please get in touch and speak to a member of our training team.
Questions and Answers
Course Reviews
Other courses you might be interested in
SMS for Managers – Leading on Aviation Safety
Senior managers have a vital role to play in safety management. Although senior managers may not be directly involved with an organisation’s Safety Management System (SMS), without the full support of senior management filtering down from the top, an organisation may not be able to deliver the value and benefits of an effective SMS.
Safety Management (Advanced) – Evaluating Effectiveness
In our Safety Management Systems (SMS) Principles and Applications course, you will have learnt how to implement and assess a basic SMS. Building on those foundations, in this advanced course, you will develop the skills and knowledge to competently evaluate the effectiveness of an organisation’s SMS.
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