In February, the FAA chartered a safety management system (SMS) aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) to seek industry input on new rules that will govern SMSs for operators and repair stations. According to the FAA order establishing the ARC, “Current regulatory requirements impose technical specifications for products and delivery of services; however, they do not address the framework within which the safety of those products and services are to be managed. SMS requires a proactive approach to discovering and correcting problems before they exhibit safety consequences. SMS also includes processes that seek to identify potential organizational breakdowns and necessary process improvements which thus allow management to address a safety issue before a noncompliant or unsafe condition results.” SMS ARC team members will review comments from industry and make recommendations for the SMS notice of proposed rulemaking. The Aeronautical Repair Station Association will hold an SMS session on Friday, March 27 during its Annual Repair Symposium in Pentagon City, Va.