Register

SMS for Helicopters

Industry leaders commit to safety.

[Credit: iStock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA and NTSB are advocating for commercial helicopter operators (Parts 91 and 135) to proactively adopt Safety Management Systems (SMS), a formal approach to managing safety and risk that establishes a robust safety culture.
  • An SMS comprises four key components—safety policy, risk management, assurance, and promotion—with the core purpose of mitigating risk by identifying hazards, planning responses, and verifying their effectiveness.
  • Organizations like Helicopter Association International (HAI) provide guidance, vet affordable software solutions, and emphasize the importance of third-party oversight to help operators overcome complacency and financial pressures.
  • Effective SMS must continuously evolve to encompass all organizational departments, not just flight operations, and proactively address critical rotorcraft risks such as adverse weather conditions and poor aeronautical decision-making.
See a mistake? Contact us.

When you were a child, did you ever hear this from a parent: “Clean up your room, or I will clean it up for you!” This usually was not a good thing, as the parent method of ‘cleaning up your room’ is more scorched earth than Mary Poppins.

A similar situation exists in the aviation industry as commercial helicopter operators are crafting safety management systems (SMS) for their businesses before the FAA makes one for them.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE