Constant Aviation has been recognized by the FAA as the second independent MRO to achieve corporate safety management system (SMS) status. The corporate SMS designation means the Directional Aviation company is operating under a single safety system companywide at its MRO operations in Cleveland, Ohio, and Orlando, Florida. Illinois-based AAR Corp. was the first MRO to receive the FAAâs corporate SMS designation.
While Constantâs SMS was only recently recognized by the FAA, the company has been operating under SMS processes since August 2018. The FAA recognition came after a December 2021 audit of the company's SMS that demonstrated its system ran parallel to its two business aviation maintenance sites. The corporate SMS status was awarded based on criteria that included appointing a single accountable executive to oversee the program; reviewing and analyzing data at the corporate level; identifying and communicating hazards across the company; and developing a common manual and documentation.
âHaving two or more systems generally means maintaining multiple manuals, operating multiple databases, and operating with less communication and coordination,â said Constant CEO David Davies. âThe FAA understands that safety management systems work best with priorities, resources, and interaction fully aligned to maximize their effectiveness. We have worked to integrate our SMS across our entire company, and FAA acceptance of our corporate SMS program is recognition of this at the highest level.â