A systematic review of safety management system (SMS) in aviation with a focus on the safety level

Safety is generally characterised as the state of being “safe”, the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable consequences. One effective way of achieving it is to implement a safety management system (SMS). SMS should be seen as an aggregate strategic aspect of standard business management, understanding its high priority to safety. This article describes and illustrates SMS in aviation, focusing on the similarities and differences in the system approaches adopted by selected Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) with the primary focus on the safety level. The main goal is to provide a structural comparison of the system framework within individual CAAs and its explanation in safety-related documents. This article also dealt with the chosen safety approach (reactive, proactive and predictive) and safety performance indicators (SPIs), forming a quality and effective safety system that maintains an acceptable safety level. Finally, this article is mainly based on datasets publicly available through the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Transport Canada, Civil Aviation Safety Authority Australia, Federal Aviation Administration, UK Civil Aviation Authority, Civil Aviation Administration of China and Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand websites and documentation related to safety.