SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN ORGANISATION APPROVAL
PART 21 EVOLUTION FOR DOA / POA
The role of a Safety Management System (SMS) within an EASA Part 21 J – 21.A.239 Design Management System, or EASA Part 21G – 21.A.139, is integral to ensuring aviation safet.
This regulation mandates that a design or production organisation must establish, implement, and maintain a design / production management system that incorporates a safety management element. These elements are crucial for overseeing the safety and compliance of the design, production, changes, and repairs of aviation products, parts and appliances.
A very tight deadline: march 7, 2025
The safety management element focuses on proactively managing safety hazards and risks associated with the organisation’s activities, and is organized according to ICAO Annex 19 pillars:
Safety Policy and Objectives: The organisation must develop and maintain a clear safety policy, promoting a safety culture and setting specific safety objectives.
Key Safety Personnel: Appointment of key safety personnel, including a Safety Manager, to oversee safety management processes.
Safety Risk Management: Implementation of processes for proactive and reactive identification, evaluation, and management of safety hazards and risks, including mitigation and effectiveness verification.
Safety Assurance: Monitoring the organisation’s safety performance, managing changes safely, and continuously improving the safety management element.
Safety Promotion: Through training, education and communication, to ensure all personnel are engaged in maintaining safety.
Reporting System: Establishment of a “just culture” system for voluntary reporting of safety-related incidents to facilitate continuous safety improvement.
This Part 21 evolution will harmonize Safety practices in Europe, facilitating cross cooperation between EASA, State Members and Industry for that crucial topic.
It will contribute to increase safety in aviation and confidence of the public in this transport mode.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Non-Compliance with SMS Part 21 evolutions in March 2025 may have important consequences for Approved Organisations (DOA and POA):
Impact on the EASA approval: Non-compliance may lead to the revocation, limitation or suspension, as applicable to the organisation and depending on the status of the safety management investigation early 2025.
Associated consequences for Organisations: A Non-Compliance raised by the EASA will have critical consequences:
The R&R Consulting approach
As Part 21 experts, R&R Consulting can play a key role for implementing and maintaining Part 21 SMS Compliance. This how we can help you:
1. Technical and regulatory expertise
At R&R we have in-depth expertise in regulatory requirements and safety best practice to ensure that your SMS fully complies with the new PART 21 requirements.
2. Risk assessment
We assist our customers in carrying out risk assessments, helping them to identify and evaluate the threats specific to their organisation. We then develop risk management strategies tailored to your context.
3. Training and awareness
As a Qualiopi-certified training organisation, R&R Learning provides specific training programmes for your teams, ensuring that they understand SMS requirements and their safety responsibilities. We can also help you deliver training specific to your context, for your teams.
4. Development of policy, objectives and associated procedures
We can help you develop your policy, objectives and safety procedures in line with the SMS requirements of PART 21, tailored to the specific needs of your organisation.
5. Audit and verification
We carry out regular audits to assess your compliance with future objectives, in order to identify any discrepancies and put in place the necessary implementation actions to achieve the compliance expected by the Authorities.
6. Support during external audits
In the event of an inspection by the regulatory authorities, R&R will support you by helping you to respond to the assessment and demonstrate your compliance.
R&R Consulting belongs to "SMS User Group", is grouping Design, Production and Maintenance Organisation representatives, involved in the implementation or improvements of their Safety Management System in compliance with recent EASA Part 21.
For more information on how we can support you in this area, please contact us at: [email protected]
This regulation mandates that a design or production organisation must establish, implement, and maintain a design / production management system that incorporates a safety management element. These elements are crucial for overseeing the safety and compliance of the design, production, changes, and repairs of aviation products, parts and appliances.
A very tight deadline: march 7, 2025
The safety management element focuses on proactively managing safety hazards and risks associated with the organisation’s activities, and is organized according to ICAO Annex 19 pillars:
Safety Policy and Objectives: The organisation must develop and maintain a clear safety policy, promoting a safety culture and setting specific safety objectives.
Key Safety Personnel: Appointment of key safety personnel, including a Safety Manager, to oversee safety management processes.
Safety Risk Management: Implementation of processes for proactive and reactive identification, evaluation, and management of safety hazards and risks, including mitigation and effectiveness verification.
Safety Assurance: Monitoring the organisation’s safety performance, managing changes safely, and continuously improving the safety management element.
Safety Promotion: Through training, education and communication, to ensure all personnel are engaged in maintaining safety.
Reporting System: Establishment of a “just culture” system for voluntary reporting of safety-related incidents to facilitate continuous safety improvement.
This Part 21 evolution will harmonize Safety practices in Europe, facilitating cross cooperation between EASA, State Members and Industry for that crucial topic.
It will contribute to increase safety in aviation and confidence of the public in this transport mode.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Non-Compliance with SMS Part 21 evolutions in March 2025 may have important consequences for Approved Organisations (DOA and POA):
Impact on the EASA approval: Non-compliance may lead to the revocation, limitation or suspension, as applicable to the organisation and depending on the status of the safety management investigation early 2025.
Associated consequences for Organisations: A Non-Compliance raised by the EASA will have critical consequences:
- Revenue, with project and business losses
- Costs, with project deliveries delayed, rework, and late activities for updating processes and make them SMS compliant
- Reputation, as an non-compliance will highlight the lack of respect for safety rules and safety culture.
The R&R Consulting approach
As Part 21 experts, R&R Consulting can play a key role for implementing and maintaining Part 21 SMS Compliance. This how we can help you:
1. Technical and regulatory expertise
At R&R we have in-depth expertise in regulatory requirements and safety best practice to ensure that your SMS fully complies with the new PART 21 requirements.
2. Risk assessment
We assist our customers in carrying out risk assessments, helping them to identify and evaluate the threats specific to their organisation. We then develop risk management strategies tailored to your context.
3. Training and awareness
As a Qualiopi-certified training organisation, R&R Learning provides specific training programmes for your teams, ensuring that they understand SMS requirements and their safety responsibilities. We can also help you deliver training specific to your context, for your teams.
4. Development of policy, objectives and associated procedures
We can help you develop your policy, objectives and safety procedures in line with the SMS requirements of PART 21, tailored to the specific needs of your organisation.
5. Audit and verification
We carry out regular audits to assess your compliance with future objectives, in order to identify any discrepancies and put in place the necessary implementation actions to achieve the compliance expected by the Authorities.
6. Support during external audits
In the event of an inspection by the regulatory authorities, R&R will support you by helping you to respond to the assessment and demonstrate your compliance.
R&R Consulting belongs to "SMS User Group", is grouping Design, Production and Maintenance Organisation representatives, involved in the implementation or improvements of their Safety Management System in compliance with recent EASA Part 21.
For more information on how we can support you in this area, please contact us at: [email protected]
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