ABSTRACT
This chapter provides operation managers, training managers and line crews with a perspective on the issues central to the delivery of safe operations on a day-to-day basis. It focuses on flight crews. An operator's Safety Management System (SMS), the fostering of a safety-oriented culture and good crew training programmes are the principal methods of ensuring that lessons are learned and that crews are well-trained and empowered to 'speak up' not just in principle but in practice. Within an SMS, there is a distinct focus on operational safety, and the human element in the system. It underlines the importance of integrating human factors through all parts of the SMS. The operator's SMS exercises active safety oversight of the whole operation and the airline's operations and dispatch functions are monitoring weather and airport availability on a 24/7 basis for all their routes and diversion airports.
