Safety Management System (SMS) Implementation
Learn how to implement and sustain an aviation SMS in compliance with regulatory standards, integrating safety assurance, monitoring, and continuous improvement processes.
@ Aeroclass
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Course description
Implementing a Safety Management System (SMS) is essential for aviation organizations aiming to move from theory to practice and meet regulatory expectations. This training provides a structured roadmap to operationalize SMS elements, embed safety assurance and promotion, and drive continuous improvement.
Through real-world insights and practical tools, participants will explore how to turn safety objectives into actionable processes, conduct audits and investigations, manage performance indicators, and foster a strong safety culture. The course emphasizes integration of SMS into daily operations while aligning with global and local regulatory standards, including ICAO and EASA.
By the end of this class, participants will be ready to lead or support SMS implementation efforts within their organizations, ensuring safety systems are not only designed but actively lived and improved.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this class, participants will be equipped to:
- Apply SMS components and elements through practical implementation steps
- Design and manage safety assurance, audits, and investigations
- Develop, monitor, and interpret safety performance indicators (SPIs)
- Promote safety culture and sustain engagement across teams
- Integrate SMS into existing operational and organizational systems
- Apply continuous improvement through feedback loops and management reviews
Who should attend
- Safety managers, SMS coordinators, and safety assurance staff
- Operations, maintenance, and airport department leads
- Compliance, audit, or oversight personnel with SMS responsibilities
- Civil aviation authority and regulatory officers with SMS oversight
- Other aviation professionals involved in implementing or enhancing SMS
Meet your instructor
Firas Sallam
Aviation Safety, Quality & Training Expert with 22 years of experience in the aviation industry. ICAO/IATA Certified Instructor and additionally UKCAA/EASA ICAO English Examiner. He started his aviation career as an Air Traffic Controller (ATC). Then moved to airlines operations in 2012 as a flight dispatcher, then as a senior flight dispatcher. In 2013 he became a Manager of Operations Control Center (OCC) for a startup airline in Africa, where he participated in setting the guidelines and SOPs for operations, safety, and quality, and trained his team for local and international operations. He also participated in designing the operational manuals (OMs) and setting the flight dispatch procedures. In 2015 he became operations duty manager for a flight support company in Saudi Arabia where he managed VVIP, VIP, Charter, and General Aviation operations under ICAO, EASA, FAA, and local CAAs regulations in a safe, compliant, and cost-effective manner for various types of aircraft from private jets to jumbo aircraft.
“Start with the end in mind”. Improving productivity and regulatory compliance within a healthy safety culture is the ultimate goal of the SMS. Let’s explore what are the practical steps to achieve this goal.
Why you should attend?
Establishing an effective Safety Management System requires more than theoretical knowledge - it demands a clear understanding of each step in the implementation journey. This training provides practical insight into applying ICAO’s phased approach, helping you move from planning to full operational assurance with confidence.
You’ll gain the tools to recognize common implementation challenges, address regulatory expectations, and apply structured processes that enhance safety performance. Whether you are starting from scratch or refining an existing system, this course equips you to build a compliant, sustainable, and performance-driven SMS.
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