SMS for Design and Manufacturing Organizations
The Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) launched a Part 21/Safety Management System (SMS) Rulemaking Project in September 2014. This effort is being led by the Policy and Innovation Division's System Performance and Development Branch (AIR-6E0). The Part 21/SMS Rulemaking project is being promulgated to incorporate the ICAO Annex 19 requirement, which requires that design and production approval holders, for a product, have an SMS. AIR has taken the feedback received through the Manufacturers SMS (MSMS) Pilot Project and the Part 21/SMS Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to help develop the rulemaking package.
In addition to the Part 21/SMS Rulemaking Project, National Aerospace Standard NAS 9927, Safety Management Systems and Practices for Design and Manufacturing, was developed by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). The intent of NAS 9927 is to assist design and manufacturing organizations to voluntarily implement an SMS.
The FAA has recognized NAS 9927 as meeting the intent of Annex 19 and 14 CFR Part 5 and has established a Voluntary SMS Program that allows the FAA to assess applicant voluntary SMS programs in accordance with the Standard or 14 CFR Part 5. The FAA encourages industry to implement SMS into their regular business processes and gain FAA recognition of their SMS program. Upon acceptance of the SMS program, AIR awards a letter of acceptance stating the participating company has a SMS Program accepted by the FAA.
Additional Information
Thomas Tiernan
Manager, Safety Management Integration Section (AIR-845)
407-538-1793