Introduction
Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) presents this comprehensive 3-day course designed to demonstrate full compliance with international aviation regulations like those from the FAA or the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), with a direct focus on driving Aviation Safety. This course explicitly integrates the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 directly into the Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) and regulatory framework, positioning the Quality Audit as a key Safety Assurance function. Participants will gain practical skills in conducting aviation quality audits that simultaneously address ISO 9001 requirements and regulatory mandates while prioritizing safety-critical processes. The training emphasizes the connection between regulatory compliance, quality processes, and the mitigation of safety risks through effective auditing techniques.
What is the Benefit of this Training – What will I learn?
a)Regulatory Compliance Excellence: Master the techniques for cross-referencing ISO 9001 requirements with FAA and GACA regulations to ensure no compliance or safety gaps exist in your organization
b)Practical Auditing Skills: Gain hands-on experience in developing aviation-specific audit checklists, conducting effective interviews, and gathering objective evidence for safety-critical processes
c)Safety Risk Mitigation: Learn to identify potential safety hazards through risk-based auditing and apply Root Cause Analysis tools to develop systemic safety improvements that prevent recurrence
d)Enhanced Safety Assurance: Understand how to position quality audits as a fundamental safety tool within your SMS, using Safety Performance Indicators and audit results to drive continuous improvement in aviation safety
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for aviation professionals responsible for ensuring quality and safety compliance within their organizations. It specifically targets individuals who conduct or manage internal audits, oversee quality assurance programs, or are involved in maintaining regulatory compliance and safety standards. Whether you work for an airline, MRO, design organization, or aviation service provider, this training will equip you with the essential skills to conduct audits that enhance both quality and safety performance.
Detailed Content / Topics – The following Subjects will be addressed
Day 1: Foundation – Quality Management Systems, Safety Assurance, & Aviation Context
The focus is on establishing the foundational knowledge of ISO 9001 and linking its core principles to the highly regulated safety-critical aviation environment.
Introduction to Quality Auditing and the Aviation Safety Context
Considering the Regulatory Drivers & Need for Quality: Understanding the unique importance of quality and its direct correlation to Aviation Safety. (e.g., SMS obligations, the role of Quality in Continuous Airworthiness, and the concept of Safety Assurance).
Regulatory Frameworks: Overview of applicable aviation regulations (e.g., FAA 14 CFR, Part-M/Part-145/Part-21, GACA Regulations) and how they mandate Quality Assurance (QA) as a pillar of the overall Safety Management System.
Definitions: Clarifying terms: Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Safety Management System (SMS), Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs), and the role of internal auditing in Safety Assurance.
Understanding ISO 9001:2015 Through a Safety Lens
ISO 9001:2015 High-Level Structure: Understanding the common structure used across all major ISO management system standards, emphasizing its compatibility with the SMS structure (e.g., ICAO Annex 19).
The Seven Quality Management Principles: Focus on Process Approach and Risk-Based Thinking—how these principles are essential for identifying and mitigating potential safety hazards.
Core Clauses Considered (Safety-Focused Interpretation):
Context of the Organization: Understanding the needs of the aviation stakeholders (regulators, customers, employees) and the Safety Context (e.g., operational environment, technology changes).
Leadership: The critical role of top management in promoting a positive Safety and Quality Culture and allocating resources for safety-critical activities.
Planning: Identifying and addressing aviation safety risks and opportunities (Risk-Based Auditing and its connection to the organization’s Safety Risk Management processes).
The ISO 9001:2015 Requirements in Detail
Support and Operation (Ensuring Operational Safety and Compliance)
Resources: Competence and training requirements for aviation personnel (e.g., certificated mechanics, pilots) in compliance with regulatory mandates (e.g., GACA/FAA training requirements) – A direct factor in operational safety.
Documented Information: Controlling safety-critical records like maintenance logs, Airworthiness Directives (ADs), Service Bulletins (SBs), and regulatory compliance documents to ensure traceability and airworthiness.
Operational Planning and Control: Auditing maintenance planning, aircraft scheduling, and parts control to prevent errors that could compromise flight safety.
Design and Development: Applicable to design organizations (e.g., Part 21) or modifications (STCs) – Auditing the safety integrity of design changes.
Control of Externally Provided Processes/Products: Critical in Aviation—auditing suppliers, MROs, and contracted services to ensure their compliance and quality do not introduce safety risks into the operation.
Day 2: Audit Evidence, Techniques, and Compliance Mapping for Safety
This day focuses on the “how-to” of auditing, emphasizing the connection between regulatory compliance, quality processes, and the mitigation of safety risks.
Audit Evidence: Aviation-Specific Documentation
Practical examples of auditable documented information (Objective Evidence for Safety Assurance):
Maintenance: Work Orders (WOs), Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs), Deferred Maintenance Items (DMIs) – Auditing for timely and correct defect rectification.
Flight Operations: Flight plans, crew duty records (Fatigue Risk Management), operational manuals (GOM/FOM) – Auditing for adherence to operational safety limits.
Parts: Receiving inspection reports, Certificate of Conformance (CoC), traceability records – Auditing to prevent the use of unapproved or counterfeit parts (a major safety risk).
Auditing Techniques and Compliance Mapping
Performance Evaluation & Improvement (Linking Quality Audit Results to SMS)
Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis, and Evaluation: Using key performance indicators (KPIs) and Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs), alongside Safety Culture surveys, to assess QMS and SMS effectiveness.
Internal Audit: Planning and conducting audits—linking the audit program directly to identified high-risk areas from the Safety Risk Profile within the SMS.
Management Review: Ensuring the review covers regulatory changes, audit results, and Safety Performance (e.g., accident/incident data, hazard reports).
Improvement: Handling nonconformities (NCs) and Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) with an emphasis on systemic safety improvements.
Audit Process Management
Auditor Competency: Skills, attributes, and ethics required for an aviation quality auditor, including an understanding of human factors and safety management principles.
The Audit Lifecycle: Planning, executing (interviewing, sampling), reporting, and follow-up – focusing on gathering objective evidence related to safety barriers.
Compliance Mapping (Crucial Topic): Techniques for cross-referencing ISO 9001 requirements with specific clauses in FAA and GACA regulations, and crucially, with the organization’s SMS procedures, to ensure no compliance or safety gaps exist.
Day 3: Practical Skill Session & Safety-Focused Improvement Cycle
The final day focuses on practical application, reporting, and linking quality audits to the continuous Safety and Quality improvement cycle.
Practical Skill Session
Audit Checklists Development: Creating aviation-specific checklists that simultaneously address ISO 9001 requirements (e.g., Production/Service Provision) and regulatory mandates (e.g., GACA/FAA requirements for tool calibration) while prioritizing safety-critical processes.
Interviewing Techniques: How to effectively interview personnel (e.g., a mechanic, a flight dispatcher) to gather objective evidence and assess awareness of safety responsibilities and procedures.
Nonconformity Management and Simulation
Writing Nonconformity Reports (NCRs) and Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)
Objective Evidence: Training on ensuring an NCR is backed by clear, objective, and auditable evidence from the aviation operation, demonstrating a breakdown in a safety barrier or regulatory control.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Applying RCA tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram, SHELL Model) to find the underlying systemic issue, not just the symptom, particularly for safety-critical findings.
CAP Effectiveness: Evaluating whether proposed corrective actions will truly prevent recurrence, satisfy the regulatory body, and enhance the overall safety level of the operation.
Aviation Audit Simulation & Role-Playing
Scenario (Safety Focus): A practical exercise, such as auditing a Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO) tool control process or a Flight Operations Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS).
Roles: Assigning roles (Lead Auditor, Auditee, Observer).
Activity: Conducting the audit, identifying nonconformities that pose a potential safety risk, and practicing closing meetings with a focus on proactive safety improvement.
Final Review and Examination
Course Summary: Key takeaways on integrating QMS, SMS (Safety Assurance), and Regulatory Compliance—the Quality Audit as a fundamental Safety Tool.
Open Q&A
Final Knowledge Assessment (Exam): A test covering ISO 9001:2015 clauses and their application within the FAA/GACA regulatory landscape, with scenario questions focused on identifying and mitigating safety risks.
Target Groups
This course is designed for aviation quality auditors, SMS managers, compliance officers, maintenance managers, and quality assurance professionals working within airlines, MROs, and aviation organizations.
Pre-requisites
Participants should have a basic understanding of aviation operations, regulatory requirements, and quality management principles.
Learning Objectives
a)Master the integration of ISO 9001:2015 requirements with aviation regulatory frameworks (FAA and GACA) and Safety Management Systems to conduct comprehensive quality audits
b)Develop practical auditing skills including evidence gathering, compliance mapping, interviewing techniques, and creating aviation-specific audit checklists for safety-critical processes
c)Apply effective nonconformity management techniques using Root Cause Analysis tools to identify systemic safety issues and develop robust Corrective Action Plans
d)Evaluate the effectiveness of Quality Management Systems as a Safety Assurance function through performance indicators, safety risk profiles, and continuous improvement processes
What do People Say about Sofema Aviation Services Training?
“I found satisfying answers to all my questions.”
“The instructor demonstrated very deep knowledge of the subject.”
“The length of the course fit my needs and expectations.”
“The content was really effective, I gained a lot of new knowledge.”
“The practical examples were perfectly delivered.”
Duration
3 days – Start at 09:00 and finish at 17:00, with appropriate refreshment breaks.
Registration: Email: [email protected] or Call: +359 2 821 08 06
