The world's leading aerospace designers, manufacturers and maintenance providers today announced publication of a new, international industry standard to improve safety performance and enhance safety culture: "Implementing a Safety Management System for Design, Manufacturing and Maintenance Providers."

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA), Aerospace Industries Association of Brazil (AIA-B), Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIA-C) and AeroSpace and Defence Association Industries of Europe (ASD) spent two years developing the standard. The standard enables the global aviation industry to implement a Safety Management System (SMS) throughout the global supply chain, consistent with the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Annex 19 "Safety Management" standards and recommended practices.

"This standard will allow us to implement key safety measures consistently throughout the industry," said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. "It will facilitate a more efficient and globalized approach to approvals from aviation authorities around the world."

SMS is a decision-making methodology based on proactively identifying, assessing and controlling hazards and safety risks before they result in accidents and incidents, and analyzing performance data for continuous improvement. The associations that developed the standard have also established a steering committee to oversee and support the standard, including working with the broader stakeholder community to ensure that future revisions are effective.

The standard is available free-of-charge on the websites of the five sponsoring aerospace manufacturing associations.