SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SMS .1

6-8 Safety Management Manual SMM 6.4.19 ALoS is delivered through action plans. These are the tools and means needed to achieve the safety target values of ALoS related to an SSP. Action plans include the operational procedures, technology, systems and programmes to which measures of reliability, availability, performance andor accuracy can be specified. An example of an action plan for a safety target related to reduction in controlled flight into terrain CFIT accidents would be the implementation of constant descent arrival procedures, and arrival procedures charts designed for stabilized approaches. An example of an action plan for a safety target related to reduction in runway incursion events would be deployment of a radar system with an expected 98 per cent availability of critical equipment. 6.4.20 It must be emphatically asserted that the notion of ALoS refers to national or State-level objectives, to be achieved through the SSP, as a means to verify satisfactory implementation of the SSP. Therefore, reference must be always made to the acceptable level of safety related to an SSP. The safety indicator values and safety target values of an ALoS provide a measurable way of ensuring and demonstrating the effectiveness of an SSP, beyond regulatory compliance. An SSP should fulfil all regulatory requirements as set forth by international and national regulations. Regulatory compliance still remains at the foundation of safety management. By selecting a combination of measurable operational performance outcomes, which are State-specific and which build upon the foundation provided by regulatory compliance, the real effectiveness and efficiency of the safety management processes underlying an SSP can be assured. 6.4.21 The implementation of an ALoS goes above and beyond regulatory compliance with national and international requirements. Establishing an ALoS for an SSP does not replace legal, regulatory or other established requirements, nor does it relieve States from their obligations regarding the Convention on International Civil Aviation ICAO Doc 7300 and its related provisions contained in the Annexes to the Convention. 6.4.22 As a conclusion to the discussion on ALoS, Figures 6-4, 6-5 and 6-6 summarize, in graphical format, the transition from initial to mature ALoS related to an SSP, ALoS reflecting safety measurement, and ALoS reflecting safety performance measurement of the related SMSs, as discussed in this section. 6.5 SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SMS 6.5.1 Annexes 1, 6, 8, 11, 13 and 14 establish that States shall require, as part of their SSP, that approved training organizations that are exposed to safety risks during the provision of their services, aircraft operators, approved maintenance organizations, organizations responsible for type design andor manufacture of aircraft, air traffic service providers and certified aerodromes implement a safety management system SMS. An SMS is a management tool for the management of safety by an organization. The Annexes also establish that the SMS shall be accepted by the State and shall, as a minimum: a identify safety hazards; b ensure the implementation of remedial action necessary to maintain agreed safety performance; c provide for continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the safety performance; and d aim at continuous improvement of the overall performance of the safety management system. 6.5.2 The four generic processes included in the ICAO SMS requirement above identification of hazards, implementation of remedial action to address the safety risks of the consequences of hazards, continuous monitoring and continuous improvement encompass the four basic safety problem-solving activities that support delivery of services by an organization: Chapter 6. ICAO Safety Management SARPs 6-9 Figure 6-4. Transition from initial to mature ALoS related to an SSP a finding out what is wrong hazard identification; b proposing and implementing a fix or fixes remedial action; c making sure that the proposed fix or fixes work as intended continuous monitoring; and d constantly improving the management system to ensure efficacy and efficiency of the delivery of services continuous improvement of the SMS. 6.5.3 An SMS is defined as a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures. The fundamentals of an SMS are discussed in Chapter 7. Just as with the SSP, ICAO has developed an SMS framework to assist service providers in the implementation of an SMS. The framework is composed of four components and twelve elements, and is introduced in full in Chapters 8 and 9. 6.6 SMS SAFETY PERFORMANCE 6.6.1