Operators Share Updates on Expanded SMS Mandate

Expanded implementation of the FAA’s 14 CFR Part 5 Safety Management Systems (SMS) is well underway.

The recent mandate to cover all charter (Part 135), air tour (Part 91.147) and some aircraft and parts manufacturing organizations (Part 21) ushered in sweeping changes for many business aviation companies, while others were already compliant. Regardless of size, all newly included organization types must implement, document and maintain a Part 5 compliant SMS by May 2027.

Customers Appreciate Extra Safety Layer

So, how is the mandate progressing so far? “We have an extremely robust program which changed the dynamic of the company,” said NBAA Safety Committee member Marcela White, vice president and co-owner of Tavaero Jet Charter. The Houston-based company reports several positive results from its 16-year-old SMS, including:

• Enhanced cross-team conversation
• Standardization in dictated policy
• Valuable department feedback

Safety starts at the top and flows through the entire company. While an SMS does add administrative work, it also has facilitated conversations with customers. For example, White described a recent passenger brief that redirected a flight from an airport nearest to the passenger’s original destination to an alternate airport with better weather conditions. “Once the client hears the entire story, they are grateful for the added layer of security,” she said.

Guidance for Getting Started

For companies just embarking on their SMS journeys, there is a key point to remember: “Oversight begins as soon as the organization submits its Declaration of Compliance. The documentation must match the implemented SMS,” said NBAA Safety Committee member Amanda Ferraro, CEO, Aviation Safety Solutions LLC.

Organizations unfamiliar with SMS will need six to 12 months to implement an SMS, and they cannot buy a generic software package or an off-the-shelf manual. Should someone copy another SMS manual and simply change the document’s name, Ferraro warns, “The FAA will check that the organization is following its SMS manual processes by checking the performance of the system.”

“Fifty-four percent of Part 135 operators have two or fewer aircraft, but each must comply with the same regulations as an airline with more than 130,000 employees,” said NBAA Safety Committee member Mike Ott, director, program operations at Phoenix Air Group Inc. “The only exceptions are for communication and reporting in single-employee organizations.”

Companies with Third Country Operator approval for Europe should also be aware that U.S. Part 5 rules differ from the SMS standards set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Changing the Culture

Although many may expect instant results, White recommends patience. “SMS takes years to change the culture and see the benefits,” she said. All of White’s teammates at Tavaero Jet Charter have a voice. “SMS implementation is one of the best tools for safety and communication across the entire organization. It’s not just another rule!”

Review “FAA Part 5 SMS for Small Operators: A Practical Guide” at nbaa.org/sms/part5.