Safety management system and risk-based approach in aviation maintenance: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Safety within aviation is defined by the effective management and mitigation of risks associated with aviation activities, encompassing direct aircraft operations and supporting functions. The safety management system (SMS), a holistic approach to proactively managing safety risks, is central to this endeavor. Comprising four integral components—safety policy and objectives, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion—the SMS hinges on a systematic risk management process. This study aims to understand the foundational principles for framing and executing organizational systems harmonized with the SMS and a risk-based approach within the realm of aviation maintenance organizations. Through a detailed literature review, this research discloses a concentrated focus on organizational factors, human factors, and managerial aspects within existing scholarship. Findings underscore the multifaceted nature of ensuring safety in aviation maintenance operations, clarifying the complicated bonds between organizational factors, human factors, and managerial aspects within this specialized context. Finally, we presented the essential characteristics of an SMS-integrated aviation maintenance organization, as derived from our comprehensive literature review.