The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is planning a series of forums to help prepare Part 135 and air tour operators for the upcoming safety management system (SMS) mandate, as well as provide better insight to the FAA on their struggles in meeting the requirements. The association is looking at potential locations and timing that would best fit operator schedules as well as other events where it could reach the larger community.

These forums come on the heels of the 135 SMS Roundup event the association recently held, drawing 70 aviation professionals and government officials from around the country, including from the FAA, to Dallas.

The forum not only included sessions on key topics—from building safety culture and employee engagement to using technology and learning about case studies—but it fostered a dialog between the FAA and operators on areas that were unclear or concerning, said Jenny Ann Urban, v-p of regulatory affairs for NATA. The overarching theme was to help prepare operators for the May 28, 2027 deadline for submission of their declaration of compliance signifying that they have SMS implemented.

“You need to design and implement your SMS before submitting your declaration of compliance because once that's submitted, even if you’ve submitted ahead of the deadline, you've entered into a regulatory environment where they can come and inspect you,” Urban said.

Along with regulators, also participating in NATA’s forum were representatives from larger operators that have already adopted past voluntary SMS programs or submitted their declarations of compliance. Not only were they on hand to share best practices with smaller operators but to learn from each other, Urban noted. A key theme emerging among them was that safety is not a competition but rather it's better for the industry as a whole when everyone is incorporating best practices and sharing information.

As far as the FAA officials there, they had an opportunity to hear questions on how the SMS programs will be reviewed and inspected and concerns that different inspectors may have different expectations. A key message impressed by operators was the importance that inspectors are trained and understand the rules. Particularly important was that inspectors evaluate for compliance but not dictate how to get there.

Among the questions was whether the FAA could keep up with the mandate alongside industry. Regulators are hoping—and starting to see—that many will seek approval for their declaration in advance. But there is a prevailing concern about a rush right at the deadline.

FAA officials indicated that they were paying attention to these and other concerns and were using that information as they train and educate their workforce.

Based on attendee feedback, that dialog with regulators was among the most valuable interactions with operators at the forum.

But also important was the sharing of best practices because the participants understood that SMS is an evolving process rather than a static program, Urban said. Other topics of interest included how AI can be used to help with data review or other aspects of an SMS, and what other technology is available to assist operators.

Safety culture also remained an important theme because it is central to the SMS program—how it starts with leadership, filters through the entire organization, and continues to grow. Urban added this dialog was especially important for smaller operators to help encourage employees to report, particularly when there may be just a few staff members.

Regulators and industry officials alike agreed that education is the key to the industry-wide successful adoption.

“People get a little overwhelmed with SMS, but if you already have management systems in place, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. You can utilize that,” Urban said, stressing that SMS will be different for every operator. 

Every operator has different risks and different safety analyses. This is why it is important to have the regulators understand the industry and make sure SMS is scalable. Operators need to understand what fits and works for them.

These are some of the key themes that the association is hoping to reach other operators as it plans for future such forums in advance of the 2027 mandate. But in addition to the forums the association is using its own and other events to get the message out. The concern is reaching the operator who may not be paying attention or may be intimidated by the process.