Aviation Safety Management, Risk and Regulation MSc

​​​Most organisations are already using safety management systems and the aim of the module is to take an in-depth view of their effectiveness. This will include the various methods of safety assurance, plus the concepts of safety culture and resilience across the organisation. A critical review of the varied types of risk assessment will also be included.

• Methods to determine level of safety risk.

• Sharing of intelligence and learning to create improved safety knowledge.

• Links between security, cyber risk and effective safety management of an organisation.

• Just culture, organisational culture and links to safety culture for both industry and regulator.

• Difference between operator and NAA rules with regards to SMS.

• Turning data into knowledge.

• Safety information and analyses, including reporting systems and investigation.

• Evaluation of safety performance.

• Risk Analysis: Identification and Assessment.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Analyse and interpret risk in the aviation industry.

2. Create methods for the continuous improvement of managing safety.

3. Assess and implement techniques for the identification and management of hazards and risks.

4. Evaluate and apply appropriate methods of safety management for diverse situations, including the strengths and weaknesses of each one.

5. Examine the issues to be faced for emerging safety risks and the risk analysis of new systems.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) framework provides common standards to enable the continuing growth of the industry while aiming to improve the safety performance. In recent years, the shift from ‘Compliance based’ to ‘Performance Based’ approach to regulation and oversight, has been implemented by some of the leading regulatory authorities such as UK CAA, Transport Canada etc. Furthermore, the application of these concepts can also be by the service providers in the industry to manage safety in the most efficient way.

This module will aim to evaluate the challenges which the ICAO and National Aviation Authorities (NAA) are facing in terms of not only developing new standards and regulations but also achieving effective oversight and safety assurance. It will also critically review the differences between ‘Compliance Based’ and ‘Performance / Risk Based’ approaches and their impact on the State Safety Programmes (SSP) and ‘Safety Management Systems’ (SMS)

• Chicago Convention, ICAO framework, Standards and Recommended Practices (Annexes 1-19) and Guidance material provided by ICAO including how they are produced. The structure and role of ICAO and how it operates.

• ICAO Member States’ responsibilities, States Safety Programmes and State Safety Oversight (SSO) System Critical Elements (CE). National Aviation Authorities, their role and organisation structures. Characteristics of an effective and mature regulator: oversight styles and effectiveness for safety assurance.

• European Legal Framework, EU’s institutions, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and its relationship with ICAO and member states’ regulatory authorities. Rulemaking processes, Hard Law and Soft Law concept.

• Reasons for regulatory oversight, and how to determine the correct / most appropriate level to achieve effective risk management. Difference between compliance and performance / risk-based approaches.

• Performance-based regulation - Roles and Responsibilities. Safety Risk Policy and Regulatory SMS Governance within an NAA. 

• Global, European and UK case studies on regulatory frameworks and oversight approaches. Industry standards such as IOSA, ISAGO, and IS-BAO and their role in the overall regulatory and surveillance system.

• Clarification of responsibilities between multiple regulatory agencies within an ICAO state. Case study of MoU between UK CAA and UK HSE.

• Safety Management Systems for Service Providers, demonstrating compliance with the regulatory requirements, governance of SMS in different organisations including different sectors operated, business model, size, complexity etc. and the responsibilities of the Accountable Manager.

• Application of ‘risk-based oversight’ to internal auditing programmes and oversight of all outsourced functions. 

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Critically examine the origin and scope of the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, particularly Annex 19 "Safety Management" and national/regional laws and regulations.

2. Appraise the fundamental characteristics of "compliance-based oversight" and "performance/risk-based oversight".

3. Design the necessary processes for implementing performance / risk-based oversight system within regulatory authorities and service providers.

4. Evaluate how service providers can demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements for implementing SMS and provide safety assurance to all internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, business partners and customers.

Aviation is a human-in-the loop system. Humans are represented at all levels of the organisation from leadership to the operator on the front line. Resilience emerges through interaction across this complex socio-technical system. This demands consideration of many organisations involved in the operation including, for example regulators, operators and manufacturers.

Capturing the required high organisational performance is key to maintaining and improving high levels of safety in an evolving system. This course considers aviation from both organisational and individual perspectives. Models, tools and techniques are examined to capture, appraise and mitigate risks that emerge due to the interactive complexity of the system.

• Models of the organisation and managing organisational change.

• Individual and organisational learning.

• Human performance shaping factors.

• Human error assessment and mitigation.

• Relevant research methods for the study of sociotechnical systems.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Develop systems thinking to interpret how safety is construed in socio-technical systems.

2. Apply tools and techniques to characterise and mitigate socio-technical risk throughout the organisation.

3. Evaluate the influence of change and system evolution on safety.

4. Appraise methods for monitoring and evaluating safety interventions.

This course is based around a case study approach to aircraft accident investigation. You will have the opportunity to experience important elements of aircraft accident investigation from initial notification of an event through to generating and communicating investigative findings. 

You will be presented with a simulated accident scenario during which you will be exposed to all elements of the investigation such as evidence collection, interviewing, analysis and the generation of safety recommendations. 

• Accident investigation approaches and response.  

• On-site appraisal and preservation of evidence. 

• Human factors in investigations. 

• Witnesses and interviewing. 

• Preparing and managing recommendations. 

• Communication of investigation findings. 

On successful completion of this module you should be able to: 

1. 1. Describe the accident investigation process as applied to aviation. 
2. 2. Identify roles and responsibilities within the accident investigation process. 
3. 3. Critically assess analysis techniques used in accident investigation. 
4. 4. To develop interview skills and recognise the limitations of interview based data.