Duncan Aviation Part of FAA Voluntary SMS Program

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LINCOLN, NEB — As a company with Part 145 repair station authority for many of its facilities, Duncan Aviation has been working closely with the FAA in the development of a Safety Management System (SMS) for all operations of its Lincoln, Nebraska, location. A Safety Management System refers to a set of formal processes and tools used to manage a structured safety program. Currently, no FAA regulation requires repair stations to have SMS, but the FAA offers a voluntary program that Duncan Aviation has been participating in for several months.

“Safety has always been at the heart of what we do at Duncan Aviation and always will be,” says Tom Burt, Exexcutive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Michigan, facility. “A Safety Management System will help us connect all of our safety-related activities so that we can confidently continue delivering safe products while keeping our team members safe in an increasingly complex environment.”

Aviation SMS programs are based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards as well as FAA guidelines in 14 CFR part 5. The SMS processes are organized into five main components: Safety Policy, Risk Management, Assurance, Promotion, and Record-Keeping.

So far, the Duncan Aviation SMS team has completed a gap analysis, which looks at how current Duncan Aviation safety activities line up with 14 CFR part 5. They are now in the process of making minor modifications to some policies, adding a few new processes, clarifying the SMS processes and goals, and conducting training. The third and final step will include FAA design and demonstration audits. Burt anticipates the process will be completed in 2019.

Duncan Aviation’s Flight Department is IS-BAO Stage III accredited, which requires an SMS for that department. In addition, the Lincoln FBO Operations is Stage I accredited by IS-BAH, which also requires an SMS for that area. The FAA SMS in work covers all facets of Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln location.

“Once everything is verified and accepted by the FAA for our operations in Lincoln, we will move on to apply for SMS for our Battle Creek and Provo (Utah) locations as well,” says Mike Brown, Audit Programs/SMS Manager. “In the meantime, we are implementing all the same processes at all of our locations.”

About Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of business aircraft operators, government agencies, and other aircraft service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit avionics systems, full paint and interior services, engineering and certification services, fabrication and manufacturing services, and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah. We also have dozens of other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with scheduled regional support and the quickest response possible to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.

For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit https://www.DuncanAviation.aero/services