SMS Implementation & Operation
Prepare for SMS compliance with confidence
Implementing and Operating Safety Management Systems in Aviation (US organizations)
3-day course | Virtual & In-company training
- Tailored for U.S. organizations, aligned with FAA standards
- Gain insights into the Safety Management Systems journey
- Master the principles of SMS, its benefits and challenges
- Learn to develop, implement, and maintain an ICAO-compliant SMS
| Start Date | End Date | Venue | Price (Excl. VAT) | Availability | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/03/2025 | 20/03/2025 | Online | £980.00 | More than 5 places | Book |
Advancing SMS: What’s Changing in the USA?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has set a compliance target date for all U.S.-based aviation organizations, including air carriers, maintenance providers, and manufacturers, to implement a Safety Management System (SMS) by December 2025. This mandate requires these organizations to adopt systematic processes that proactively manage safety risks and foster a culture of safety across all operational levels. The FAA’s SMS requirement aligns with global aviation safety standards and aims to improve risk assessment, reporting, and mitigation, enhancing overall safety and accountability in the U.S. aviation sector.
Course Overview
Organizations in the aviation industry are required to have a Safety Management System in accordance with ICAO Annex 19. But what is SMS in practice, and how does it work?
This course introduces SMS, based on ICAO Annex 19 Standards and Recommended Practices and guidance on implementation as set out in ICAO Doc 9859 and included in FAA mandatory SMS regulations and specific implementation rules under 14 CFR Part 5 and organizations certified under Part 21, 91.147, 121, 135 and 139. Upon completing the course, you will acquire the skills necessary to develop, implement, and maintain a fully functional SMS. This equips organizations with the knowledge needed to plan and support SMS implementation in preparation for key deadlines to ensure compliance declarations are successfully completed.
The course draws on the ICAO Annex 19 SMS Framework, FAA Safety Management Rules, and SMS Guidance Material, along with experiences and observations from the UK CAA’s current oversight activities. It combines presentations, group discussions, and practical exercises – facilitated and delivered by experienced UK CAA safety management experts.
This course is delivered in daily 5-hour sessions over three days. Each day, sessions begin at:
4pm / UTC +0
11am EST / UTC -5
10am CST / UTC -6
9am MST / UTC -7
8am PST / UTC -8
The UK’s journey to implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS) began in 2009 when the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced SMS requirements under Annex 6, later consolidated in Annex 19, which came into effect in 2013. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) incorporated SMS into its regulatory framework to enhance safety oversight and risk management across the aviation sector, aligning with Annex 19’s global standards. Over the next decade, the CAA collaborated with industry stakeholders to ensure compliance, provided guidance on SMS implementation, and established safety performance monitoring for continuous improvement.
To date, CAAi as the training arm of the UK CAA, has trained thousands of aviation organizations worldwide in enhanced Safety Management procedures, practices, and processes to ensure compliance with ICAO requirements.
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 members of the management responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of SMS and any supporting staff.
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, FAA Part 5 SMS regulations
- Safety policy and objectives
- Safety risk management
- Safety assurance
- Safety promotion
- Creating a positive safety culture
- Practical tools to actively engage in your SMS
By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:
- Understand the ICAO and FAA safety management regulatory framework and how to apply these policies and principles into their working environment
- Recognize the value of an organization having an SMS in place and the possible legal implications of non-compliance
- Appreciate the importance of a positive safety culture
- Understand the importance of meaningful hazard identification and risk assessment as essential components for improving safety levels.
Participants should be familiar with the aviation environment in the context of safety.
Meet your Instructors
Simon Roberts
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
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's background seamlessly bridges both civil and military aviation sectors, with key roles held within the Civil and Military Aviation Authorities. John is driven by a commitment to nurturing a resilient safety culture. Emphasising the cultivation of a Just Culture environment, wherein the reporting of occurrences, the sharing of best practice and the assimilation of lessons learned, all fuel continuous improvement. Whether supporting the harmonisation of safety management systems, harnessing cutting-edge analytical tools or taking a State Level view, John is dedicated to steering organisations towards data driven decision-making and improving safety outcomes. John offers a comprehensive grasp of safety reporting, analysis, investigation, safety and risk management their supporting systems and software, across both civil and defence aviation domains.
Additional Information
Course delivery methods
This course can only be attended virtually online. At present, this course is not delivered in person at one of our training venues.
- Instructor-Led Virtual Course: With our live virtual course, you can attend this training remotely from your home or office. Engage in interactive learning from anywhere in the world. We usually use WebEx or Zoom for our virtual courses. To attend this course virtually, look for the ‘online’ venue option in the booking table above.
If you can’t see an upcoming course date, 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
eCFR :: 14 CFR Part 5 — Safety Management Systems (FAR Part 5)
This document outlines the FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) requirements for certain aviation operators. It details the framework for SMS implementation, including Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. This part establishes standards for aviation organizations to proactively identify, analyze, and mitigate safety risks, helping align operations with FAA safety objectives.
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 that meets the requirements of ICAO Annex 19.
In-company delivery
We can also tailor this training course to suit your organization’s training requirements. These bespoke training packages can be delivered at your organization’s location – almost anywhere, worldwide. Please Contact us for more information and to discuss your requirements.
VAT information
Please ensure you have your company VAT number available when booking. For additional information regarding VAT please click here.
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
See what participants are saying about our Safety Management Training training. While reviews for our new US-specific course are yet to come, these impartial reviews highlight the standard and impact of our SMS courses, trusted by thousands of aviation professionals worldwide.
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