The topic of SMS in aviation has been around for more than 30 years. The FAA provides the following description of SMS and its principles:
Technology and system improvements have made great contributions to safety. However, part of being safe is about attitudes and paying attention to what your surroundings are telling you. Whether through data or through the input of employees and others, recognizing that many opportunities exist to stop an accident is the first step in moving from reactive to predictive thinking. SMS is all about decision-making. Thus, it has to be a decision-maker’s tool, not a traditional safety program separate and distinct from business and operational decision-making. 8 (FAA)
The FAA further describes connections between SMS, organizational behaviors, and safety culture and how SMS addresses the organization’s role in safety.
