SMS - Safety Management System
SMS: More than just three letters
In January 2011, we successfully exited Level 2 FAA Safety Management System (SMS) status and are currently working on exiting level 3 to achieve 4 as the final level. Air Methods is the first helicopter air medical operator to participate in the FAA’s SMS voluntary implementation program, and one of only 8 commercial air operators (including HEMS operators and Part 121 major commercial U.S. airlines) in the nation to earn an exit Level 2 SMS status acknowledgement letter.
Air Methods’ SMS is a result of the voluntary 2006 FAA Advisory Circular 120-92 that encouraged commercial air operators to embrace a fully comprehensive SMS. The FAA SMS follows the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard as a quality management approach to controlling risk by providing the organizational framework to support a sound safety culture. It also provides the company’s management with a detailed roadmap for monitoring safety-related processes.
In 2008, Air Methods entered the FAA SMS voluntary implementation program, which is overseen and evaluated directly by the FAA. The intent of the “Level Status” is to allow aviation service providers to implement an SMS in a standardized manner and to allow recognition of each level of accomplishment. The “Level Status” is part of the SMS maturity model which includes five phases: Level 0: Orientation & Commitment; Level 1: Planning and Organization; Level 2: Reactive Processes; Level 3: Proactive Processes; and Level 4: Continuous Improvement.