FAA proposes expansions to SMS with requirements for Part 135 operators

Under the proposal, Part 135 operators will be required to implement aviation safety management systems (SMS) just like their Part 121 counterparts, who have been required to do so since 2018. According to the FAA, SMS is a top-down organizational program that prioritizes safety at the same level as other business processes. Implementation of SMS has been shown to engage employees and mitigate risks throughout the aviation industry. The FAA estimates that the cost of the new implementations will be $51.3 million. The Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) suggests modifications to existing rules and clarifications that could impact senior management directly. For instance, managers and company officers will need to implement and acknowledge a code of ethics that affirms safety as the organization’s highest priority, as part of their safety policy. The proposed rules will also require companies to inform employees that reporting problems through SMS will not be held against them. In addition, the FAA proposes including a system description that connects people responsible for specific safety processes within an organization. As a result of the 737 MAX Joint Authorities Technical Review investigation, the NPRM also includes expanding safety management policies to aircraft manufacturers. Boeing has initiated an enterprisewide safety management system that integrates safety efforts into a cohesive program, consisting of ten principles that incorporate data gathering and analysis at multiple levels in the company’s operations. These efforts bring the FAA in line with ICAO annex 19 and other regulatory agencies like EASA. The changes will rely on space-based data-gathering tools to provide better data analytics for Boeing aircraft. Boeing’s vice president of aerospace safety, analytics Vishwajeet Uddanwadiker stated that the company envisions having access to safety data in near real-time as well as historical data to provide a comprehensive overview of fleet operations and identify potential risks early. Boeing plans to partner with satellite ADS-B firm Aireon to assist in the collection of fleetwide data. The company aims to implement predictive analytics through these data-gathering policies related to SMS requirements, although it has not yet specified which airframes will be prioritized or provided a timeline for implementation. Many airfreight operators already possess a safety management system or significant elements of one, making the FAA’s proposed rule changes more incremental in nature. Senior management should review the policy changes and acknowledgment requirements and assess how the new rules may impact their policies.

FAA proposes expansions to SMS with requirements for Part 135 operators

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