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Safety Management Systems in micro and small air operators: mission possible?

de Wolf, Stéphane LU (2021) FLMU16 20192
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Abstract
This thesis explores the rationality, completeness and functioning of Safety Management Systems (SMS) amongst micro- and small-sized air operators in business aviation. In the absence of thorough literature in this sector of aviation, a survey of prior research on OHS(MS) and on non-aviation micro/small enterprises (MSE) provided a collection of factors contributing to their safety performance. Using a sociotechnical system perspective, this ‘generic’ profile served as basis for two surveys: one amongst veteran business aviation professionals and leaders, and the other amongst air operator personnel. To complement the industry’s self-portrait, neo-institutional theory is also utilised and further explains the
strategies and tactics used... (More)
This thesis explores the rationality, completeness and functioning of Safety Management Systems (SMS) amongst micro- and small-sized air operators in business aviation. In the absence of thorough literature in this sector of aviation, a survey of prior research on OHS(MS) and on non-aviation micro/small enterprises (MSE) provided a collection of factors contributing to their safety performance. Using a sociotechnical system perspective, this ‘generic’ profile served as basis for two surveys: one amongst veteran business aviation professionals and leaders, and the other amongst air operator personnel. To complement the industry’s self-portrait, neo-institutional theory is also utilised and further explains the
strategies and tactics used by many stakeholders. Its validity in business aviation and usefulness for further research is underlined in the process. The results support the existing distinctions between the three main types of business aviation air operators and provide a ‘generic’ profile for each one of them from socioeconomic and safety perspectives.
Similarities and contrasts across all industries are also highlighted. Moreover, the responses to the online survey suggest that neither the micro/small air operators nor the civil aviation authorities could create, even jointly, the conditions of possibility for SMS implementations to be complete, and therefore for air operators’ SMS to be fully functional. Although further research is needed, this initial foray into business aviation safety management fuels the argument that the current, hegemonic SMS framework designed by and for large organisations is a misfit to the micro/small air operators, including their ‘safety champions’ who are best placed to implement it, i.e., corporate flight departments. (Less)
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author
de Wolf, Stéphane LU
supervisor
organization
course
FLMU16 20192
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
air operator, aviation, business aviation, civil aviation authorities, commercial air operator, corporate flight department, decoupling, institutional theory, isomorphism, management system, micro enterprise, non-commercial air operator, occupational health and safety, OHS, PDCA, personal safety, performance-based regulation, process safety, quality management, safety, Safety Management Systems, self-regulation, small enterprise, SMS, FLMU06
language
English
id
9055223
date added to LUP
2021-06-16 10:05:02
date last changed
2021-06-16 10:05:02
@misc{9055223,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the rationality, completeness and functioning of Safety Management Systems (SMS) amongst micro- and small-sized air operators in business aviation. In the absence of thorough literature in this sector of aviation, a survey of prior research on OHS(MS) and on non-aviation micro/small enterprises (MSE) provided a collection of factors contributing to their safety performance. Using a sociotechnical system perspective, this ‘generic’ profile served as basis for two surveys: one amongst veteran business aviation professionals and leaders, and the other amongst air operator personnel. To complement the industry’s self-portrait, neo-institutional theory is also utilised and further explains the
strategies and tactics used by many stakeholders. Its validity in business aviation and usefulness for further research is underlined in the process. The results support the existing distinctions between the three main types of business aviation air operators and provide a ‘generic’ profile for each one of them from socioeconomic and safety perspectives.
Similarities and contrasts across all industries are also highlighted. Moreover, the responses to the online survey suggest that neither the micro/small air operators nor the civil aviation authorities could create, even jointly, the conditions of possibility for SMS implementations to be complete, and therefore for air operators’ SMS to be fully functional. Although further research is needed, this initial foray into business aviation safety management fuels the argument that the current, hegemonic SMS framework designed by and for large organisations is a misfit to the micro/small air operators, including their ‘safety champions’ who are best placed to implement it, i.e., corporate flight departments.}},
  author       = {{de Wolf, Stéphane}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Safety Management Systems in micro and small air operators: mission possible?}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}