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United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

AC 120-92D - Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers

Document Information

Number
120-92D
Title
Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers
Status
Active
Date issued
2024-05-21
Office of Primary Responsibility
AFS-900
Description

This advisory circular (AC) provides information on implementing a Safety Management System (SMS) based on Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 5 for aviation service providers operating or applying for a certificate or Letter of Authorization (LOA) to operate under 14 CFR part 91, § 91.147 or part 121 or 135. This AC may also be used by aviation organizations interested in receiving Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledgement of their voluntary development and implementation of an SMS that meets part 5 requirements. Additionally, part 5 provides organizations with a method to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 19, Safety Management, framework for an SMS “acceptable to the State.”

An SMS is an organization-wide, comprehensive, and preventive approach to ensuring system safety. An SMS includes a safety policy, promotion of a positive safety culture, formal methods for identifying hazards and mitigating risk, and assurance of the overall safety performance of aviation organizations. An SMS is intended to be designed and developed so the aviation organization’s employees are able to manage risks as a part of the operations and business decision-making processes. An SMS assists an aviation organization’s leadership, management teams, and employees in making effective and informed safety decisions.

Part 5 specifies a basic set of processes integral to an effective SMS but does not specify particular methods for implementing these processes. In other words, it defines what must be accomplished but not how it must be accomplished. This AC provides guidance on how an SMS may be developed to achieve the safety performance objectives outlined by an aviation organization. As is demonstrated by this AC, there is no one-size-fits-all method for complying with the requirements of part 5 or establishing a voluntary SMS. This is intentional because the FAA expects each organization to develop an SMS that works for their unique operation. This AC provides guidance regarding designing, developing, and implementing an SMS and the acceptable methods of compliance with the requirements of part 5 as well as developing a voluntary SMS. However, these methods are not the only means of complying with part 5 or implementing a voluntary SMS.

Content
Cancels
Cancels
Number Title Date
120-92B Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers

This advisory circular (AC) provides information for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 air carriers that are required to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS) based on 14 CFR part 5. Specifically, this document provides a description of regulatory requirements, guidance, and methods of developing and implementing an SMS. This AC may also be used by other aviation service providers interested in voluntarily developing an SMS based on the requirements in part 5.

An SMS is an organization-wide comprehensive and preventive approach to managing safety. An SMS includes a safety policy, formal methods for identifying hazards and mitigating risk, and promotion of a positive safety culture. An SMS also provides assurance of the overall safety performance of your organization. An SMS is intended to be designed and developed by your own people and should be integrated into your existing operations and business decisionmaking processes. The SMS will assist your organization’s leadership, management teams, and employees in making effective and informed safety decisions.

Part 5 specifies a basic set of processes integral to an effective SMS but does not specify particular methods for implementing these processes. In other words, the regulation defines "what" must be accomplished, not "how" it must be accomplished. This AC provides additional guidance on how the SMS may be developed to achieve the safety performance objectives outlined by your organization. As is demonstrated by this AC, there is no one-size-fits-all method for complying with the requirements of part 5. This design is intentional, in that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects each air carrier to develop an SMS that works for its unique operation. Thus, this AC provides guidance regarding designing and implementing acceptable methods of compliance with the requirements of part 5. These methods, however, are not the only means of compliance.

 2015-01-08