Researching Requirements for Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS)

SMS requirements may vary slightly by region, but they’re all based on the requirements outlined by ICAO.

Below are references to help you analyze your regional SMS requirements.

ICAO 9859 - the SMS Bible

Regional SMS Requirements

• US - FAA Safety Management System (SMS)
• Transport Canada - TC SMS
• European Union - EASA
• Australia - CASA (excellent SMS resources!)
• Links to Other Organizations

Important Note: While there may be regional differences, we found in most cases that it is easier to focus on ICAO requirements. Exceptions to this rule are operators solely attempting to comply with IS-BAO requirements, which may not be as onerous as ICAO SMS requirements.

Researching SMS Requirements the Easy Way

We found that the easiest way to understand requirements is by reviewing a list of items required by SMS auditors:

• SMS Audit Checklists; or
• Gap Analysis Checklists.

Related Articles on Researching Requirements for Aviation SMS

• Why EASA Aviation Service Providers Require Safety Reporting Database
• Why Safety Promotion Requires More Focus in Aviation SMS
• Best Ways to Automate Aviation Safety Training for Initial/Recurrent Requirements (Free Resources)