ACE Safety Management Systems (SMS) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ICAO document provides the international framework and Standards for airport SMS implementation?
- ICAO Annex 14
- ICAO Doc 9859 (Correct answer)
- ICAO Annex 17
- ICAO Doc 4444
Correct answer: ICAO Doc 9859
ICAO Doc 9859 (Safety Management Manual) provides the global framework and guidance for implementing SMS across aviation, including airports.
Question 2: In SMS terminology, a 'hazard' is best described as:
- An accident that has already occurred
- A condition or object with potential to cause harm (Correct answer)
- The probability of an undesired outcome
- A corrective action taken after an incident
Correct answer: A condition or object with potential to cause harm
A hazard is any condition, object, or activity with the potential to cause harm — it is a precursor to risk, not an outcome itself.
Question 3: What does the 'severity' component of risk assessment measure?
- The frequency at which a hazard is detected
- How likely it is that a hazardous event will occur
- The potential consequence or magnitude of harm if the event occurs (Correct answer)
- The number of personnel exposed to a hazard
Correct answer: The potential consequence or magnitude of harm if the event occurs
Severity measures the worst credible consequence of a hazardous event, such as fatalities, injuries, or property damage.
Question 4: A Safety Management System requires that safety objectives be:
- Set exclusively by the FAA with no airport input
- Measurable, achievable, and aligned with the safety policy (Correct answer)
- Updated only after a major accident
- Limited to airside operations only
Correct answer: Measurable, achievable, and aligned with the safety policy
SMS safety objectives must be specific, measurable, and aligned with the organization's safety policy to enable meaningful performance monitoring.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'safety assurance' in SMS?
- A one-time certification that an airport is safe
- Ongoing processes to confirm that safety risks are controlled to acceptable levels (Correct answer)
- A guarantee that no accidents will occur
- The initial hazard identification phase of SMS
Correct answer: Ongoing processes to confirm that safety risks are controlled to acceptable levels
Safety assurance consists of continuous monitoring and evaluation activities to confirm that risk controls remain effective over time.
Question 6: When an airport employee observes an unsafe condition and files a voluntary safety report, this action primarily supports which SMS component?
- Safety Policy
- Safety Risk Management
- Safety Assurance (Correct answer)
- Safety Promotion
Correct answer: Safety Assurance
Voluntary safety reports feed into safety assurance processes by providing real-time data on operational conditions and emerging hazards.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a 'just culture' within an SMS?
- To eliminate all disciplinary action for safety violations
- To encourage reporting by distinguishing between acceptable errors and willful misconduct (Correct answer)
- To transfer legal liability from employees to management
- To ensure every safety report results in a reward
Correct answer: To encourage reporting by distinguishing between acceptable errors and willful misconduct
Just culture promotes honest reporting by differentiating honest mistakes and system failures from negligent or intentional violations, without blanket immunity.
ACE Safety Management Systems (SMS) 2
Which ICAO document provides the international framework and Standards for airport SMS implementation?