SMS TRAININGS · BY ASG
Aviation SMS Training Overview
Safety Management System (SMS) training is a mandatory requirement under ICAO Annex 19 3rd Edition (effective November 2026) and is required by EASA, FAA, and national CAA regulations for all aviation organisations with approved SMS programmes. Effective SMS training ensures that all personnel — from accountable executives to front-line staff — understand their role in the SMS, how to report safety concerns, how safety risk is managed, and what safety promotion means in their daily work.
SMS training requirements vary by role: accountable executives need strategic SMS awareness and their specific safety responsibilities; safety managers need deep SMS design, implementation, and monitoring competency; operational managers need to understand safety risk management in their domain; frontline staff need safety reporting and hazard identification skills. ASG provides tailored SMS training programmes for all these levels — and all ICAO Annex 19 sector types (airlines, airports, MROs, ANSPs, ground handlers). For SMS implementation support beyond training, see our Safety Management Systems consulting page.
ICAO Annex 19 SMS Training Requirements
ICAO Annex 19 3rd Edition (2024) introduces strengthened SMS training requirements as part of its broadened applicability to additional service provider types. The standard requires that organisations implement safety promotion activities including training, communication, and sharing of safety lessons. The associated ICAO Doc 9859 Safety Management Manual (4th Edition) and IATA Safety Management Systems Implementation Guidance provide detailed guidance on SMS training programme design.
Under EASA’s SMS regulatory framework (Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/373 for ANSPs and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/746 for air operations), SMS training is an explicit requirement for organisations holding EASA approvals. FAA Part 5 SMS requirements for Part 121 carriers and (from 2027) Part 135 operators also specify safety promotion and training components. National CAA SMS regulations in ICAO member states translate these requirements into jurisdiction-specific standards.
The most significant SMS training gap in many aviation organisations is not the basic awareness level — most organisations conduct some form of SMS introduction training. The gap is at the intermediate and advanced levels: safety managers who don’t fully understand safety risk assessment methodology, operational managers who can’t conduct effective hazard identifications, and executives who receive SMS training but don’t understand their specific Annex 19 obligations.
ASG designs SMS training programmes that close these specific gaps — using realistic aviation scenarios, structured exercises, and competency assessments rather than generic lecture formats. For organisations preparing for IOSA, EASA, or CAA audits where SMS competency is assessed, our training programmes provide both the knowledge and the demonstrable evidence of competency required by auditors. See also our ICAO Annex 19 3rd Edition compliance page.
Our SMS Training Programmes
SMS Awareness Training (All Staff Levels)
Our SMS Awareness course provides all aviation personnel with a practical introduction to SMS: what SMS is, why it matters, the four pillars of ICAO Annex 19 SMS (Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion), the safety reporting system, just culture principles, and individual safety responsibilities. Available as a half-day classroom or online self-paced module. Suitable as annual refresher training or initial SMS induction for new staff.
SMS for Safety Managers (Advanced Programme)
Our advanced SMS programme for Safety Managers and Deputy Safety Managers covers: ICAO Annex 19 3rd Edition requirements in depth, SMS framework design and documentation, safety risk assessment and risk matrix development, hazard identification tools and techniques, safety performance indicators (SPI) selection and monitoring, safety assurance process design, safety investigation methodology, and safety promotion programme development. This 3-5 day programme is available as classroom, virtual instructor-led, or blended delivery.
Executive SMS Briefing & Accountable Manager Training
ASG provides targeted SMS training for Accountable Managers (AMs) and senior executives that covers their specific obligations under ICAO Annex 19 and applicable national regulations: the AM role in SMS governance, safety policy development and signature, resource allocation for safety, management review requirements, safety culture and safety leadership. Available as a half-day executive briefing or full-day workshop, with options for board-level aviation safety governance presentations.
Benefits of Professional SMS Training
Why Choose Aero Support Group for SMS Training?
ASG’s SMS trainers combine ICAO Safety Management training expertise with active SMS consulting experience. Our trainers are safety professionals who design and implement SMS programmes for aviation organisations across 100+ countries — meaning their training content reflects the practical realities of SMS implementation rather than just theoretical frameworks.
We provide SMS training in multiple formats (classroom, virtual, online) and multiple languages, enabling global deployment for international aviation groups. Our training programmes are regularly updated to reflect current Annex 19 editions, IATA ISM updates, and evolving regulatory requirements. For complete SMS implementation support, see our Safety Management Systems consulting page.
ICAO Annex 19 3rd Edition requires organisations to implement safety promotion activities including training. The specific training requirements are elaborated in the organisation’s safety promotion programme (one of the four SMS components). Safety managers, operational staff, and accountable executives all have different training needs. National CAAs translate Annex 19 into specific training requirements for approved organisations.
Yes. IOSA ORG standards require airlines to have SMS training programmes covering all relevant staff categories. IOSA auditors assess both the existence of a documented SMS training programme and evidence that training has been completed (training records). ASG’s SMS training programmes are aligned to IOSA ORG standards to ensure audit compliance. For IOSA-specific support, see our IOSA training and audit preparation services.
SMS training length varies by programme and audience. SMS awareness training for frontline staff: 2-4 hours. SMS training for operational managers: 1-2 days. Advanced SMS programme for Safety Managers: 3-5 days. Executive briefings: half-day. All programmes can be adapted to client schedules and available training time. Online self-paced modules provide maximum flexibility for large-scale deployment.
Yes. ASG customises SMS training for specific sectors: airlines (IOSA SMS requirements), airports (ICAO Annex 14 SMS, Part-ADR), MROs (EASA Part-145 SMS/quality requirements), ground handlers (ISAGO SMS requirements), and ANSPs (EU Regulation 2017/373 SMS requirements). Sector-specific scenarios, examples, and regulatory references ensure training is immediately relevant to participants’ roles.
ASG SMS training is available in English, Arabic, French, Turkish, and several other languages. For large-scale deployments requiring language-specific adaptation, ASG can work with client organisations to deliver training in local languages with appropriate regulatory adaptations. Contact our training team to discuss language requirements for your SMS training programme.
- ICAO Annex 19 3rd Edition-aligned SMS training for all staff levels
- SMS Awareness, Safety Manager Advanced, and Executive Briefing programmes
- Classroom, virtual instructor-led, and online self-paced delivery formats
- Sector-specific programmes: airlines, airports, MROs, GHSPs, ANSPs
- Training aligned to IOSA, EASA, FAA Part 5, and national CAA SMS requirements
- Trainers who are active SMS implementation practitioners
Ready to Build Your Aviation SMS Training Programme?
Effective SMS training is essential for ICAO Annex 19 compliance, IOSA audit readiness, and embedding a positive safety culture across your organisation. Aero Support Group provides practitioner-built SMS training programmes that develop real competency — not just compliance checkboxes. Contact our team to discuss your SMS training requirements.
- SMS Training
- Safety Management Systems
- ICAO Annex 19
- Aviation Safety Training
- Safety Manager Training
- Safety Promotion
References
- ICAO Annex 19 — Safety Management, 3rd Edition (2024)
- ICAO Doc 9859 — Safety Management Manual (SMM), 4th Edition (2018)
- IATA Safety Management Systems Implementation Guidance, current edition
- 14 CFR Part 5 — Safety Management Systems (FAA)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/746 — Air Operations SMS requirements
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