Hazard Notification. Yes or No?

The Importance of Hazard Notification

Ensuring safety in the aviation industry is vital, and the notification of hazards plays a crucial role in maintaining high standards. Under § 5.57, aviation organizations are required to identify potential hazards in their operating environment and notify relevant interfacing organizations, enabling timely mitigation of risks. This proactive approach not only protects individual operators but also enhances the overall safety of the aviation ecosystem.

Effective Collaboration through SMS

Safety Management Systems (SMS) are integral to fostering collaboration among aviation entities, irrespective of whether they possess their own SMS. The primary goal is to encourage the sharing of hazard information and support each other in addressing identified safety issues. By working in tandem, organizations can ensure that all stakeholders are informed and can take necessary actions to prevent incidents.

Strategic Implementation of § 5.57

Implementing § 5.57 requires a structured approach to hazard notification:

1. Identify the Hazard: Use Safety Risk Management (SRM) processes to determine potential hazards affecting aviation safety.
2. Determine Interfacing Organizations: Establish if there is an interfacing organization that can effectively address the hazard.
3. Provide Notification: Communicate the hazard details to the identified interfacing organization, ensuring confidential or proprietary information is protected.

This structured notification process helps streamline communication and ensures that only pertinent information that can contribute to safety enhancements is shared with organizations.

Step 1: Is there an external organization (interfacing person) that, to the best of your knowledge, could address the hazard or mitigate its risk? If the answer is “yes,” go to step 2. If the answer is “no,” notification is not required for this hazard. Note: This decision may occur any time while the hazard is assessed through the SRM steps (§§ 5.51, 5.53, and 5.55).

Step 2: Does the external organization (interfacing person) directly contribute to the safety of your aviation-related products and services? If the answer is “yes,” go to step 3. If the answer is “no,” notification is not required for this hazard. Note: Competitors or customers will not typically be an external organization (interfacing person) requiring a hazard notification because they do not contribute to the safety of your products or services.

Step 3: Provide a notification of the hazard to the external organization. Note: Only provide information about the hazard to the external organization. Confidential or proprietary information may be removed from the hazard notification (e.g., how the hazard was identified or risk controls put in place to address the hazard). You may use a nondisclosure agreement or other contract if you determine that the hazard notification cannot be provided without disclosing confidential or proprietary information.

Real-World Example: Flyslow Aviation

To illustrate the practical application of § 5.57, consider the example of Flyslow Aviation. Flyslow Aviation received an employee report from a pilot stating that the aircraft flight management system (FMS) deviated from the expected approach at a particular airport. The flight crew noticed the deviation and corrected the flight path for a safe landing. Flyslow Aviation’s SMS classified this employee report as a hazard because the airport is surrounded by high-elevation terrain. Although this incident occurred during the daytime and in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), management determined that if the same issue happened during a night landing or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), the aircraft could be turned toward terrain without detection by the flight crew, foreseeably resulting in an accident.

Following the § 5.57 process, Flyslow Aviation determined the aircraft manufacturer was best positioned to address the hazard. Subsequently, the manufacturer investigated the issue and notified the FMS database supplier to mitigate the risk effectively. This chain of communication exemplifies how § 5.57 facilitates a robust hazard notification system, ensuring comprehensive safety measures are in place.

Stay Engaged, Stay Safe

By adhering to § 5.57 and fostering collaborative efforts through SMS, we can collectively enhance aviation safety. Remember, timely hazard notifications safeguard your operations and contribute significantly to the safety and reliability of the aviation industry.

For further resources and guidance on implementing Safety Management Systems, contact WYVERN, THE industry expert, and attend our SMS training workshops or ask about our SMS software. Contact us for a FREE SMS demo! Together, we can elevate aviation safety and create a safer future.

References

(2024). FAA Advisory Circular No 120-92D. This circular is available for download on our public website.