Miami Air International, America’s premier charter airline, took a giant leap forward in airline safety when the FAA’s SMS Project Office in Washington, D.C. approved Miami Air’s implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS), becoming only the fifth airline overall and the first Part 121 charter airline to do so.

SMS is an organized approach to managing safety.  It is a system that encourages airlines to take a deep look at their policies, procedures and accountabilities beyond regulatory requirements. It is designed to make the airline industry, already one of the safest industries, even safer.

Miami Air’s SMS has implemented proactive and predictive hazard identification processes to complement the traditional reactive processes.  The company’s management personnel, including the President have been trained to actively identify hazards and mitigate them before they cause an incident.  All Miami Air employees have been trained and encouraged to identify and report hazards in a non-punitive environment.

The concept of SMS is an effective, proven system of managing safety in Europe, Australia, Canada, and other countries around the world.  In August, Congress will enact law requiring all US Part 121 air carriers including both charter airlines and scheduled airlines, to implement a Safety Management System within three years.

“Thanks to our participation in the FAA’s SMS Pilot Program, Miami Air will be able to operate with a clearly defined and efficient Safety Management System that will show our employees, the industry, our government and governments worldwide, Miami Air International’s commitment to operate with the highest level of safety, as intended by the impending 14 CFR Part 5 regulation and international aviation standards,” said Jim Proia, President of Miami Air International.

Currently, there are 79 airlines in the entire US enrolled in the Federal Aviation Administration’s SMS Pilot Program.  Of these, only five, including Miami Air International have implemented the safety system.  Miami Air is the only luxury on demand charter airline to have implemented SMS. 

Miami Air International, America’s premier charter airline, took a giant leap forward in airline safety when the FAA’s SMS Project Office in Washington, D.C. approved Miami Air’s implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS), becoming only the fifth airline overall and the first Part 121 charter airline to do so.

SMS is an organized approach to managing safety.  It is a system that encourages airlines to take a deep look at their policies, procedures and accountabilities beyond regulatory requirements. It is designed to make the airline industry, already one of the safest industries, even safer.

Miami Air’s SMS has implemented proactive and predictive hazard identification processes to complement the traditional reactive processes.  The company’s management personnel, including the President have been trained to actively identify hazards and mitigate them before they cause an incident.  All Miami Air employees have been trained and encouraged to identify and report hazards in a non-punitive environment.

The concept of SMS is an effective, proven system of managing safety in Europe, Australia, Canada, and other countries around the world.  In August, Congress will enact law requiring all US Part 121 air carriers including both charter airlines and scheduled airlines, to implement a Safety Management System within three years.

“Thanks to our participation in the FAA’s SMS Pilot Program, Miami Air will be able to operate with a clearly defined and efficient Safety Management System that will show our employees, the industry, our government and governments worldwide, Miami Air International’s commitment to operate with the highest level of safety, as intended by the impending 14 CFR Part 5 regulation and international aviation standards,” said Jim Proia, President of Miami Air International.

Currently, there are 79 airlines in the entire US enrolled in the Federal Aviation Administration’s SMS Pilot Program.  Of these, only five, including Miami Air International have implemented the safety system.  Miami Air is the only luxury on demand charter airline to have implemented SMS. 

Boeing’s newest airplane, the 787 jet it calls the “Dreamliner,” has been waiting in the wings for long time. Finally, the development of the craft is complete and the waiting is over.

The aviation industry is particularly excited about the Dreamliner because of its unique design elements – which could influence new aircraft builds for years to come. For example, most of the Dreamliner is covered in carbon fiber instead of aluminum – a longstanding aviation standard. Although carbon fiber is not completely new – being used in the military plane designs for years and on portions of some jetliners, it has never been used to such a degree on commercial airliner.

The carbon fiber used on the Dreamliner is strong and light-weight – like an advanced plastic. Its strength allows windows to be bigger and higher, creating amazing scenic views during flight. It also permits the climate conditions of the cabin to be more comfortable. Cabin pressure on the Dreamliner will be equivalent to 6,000 feet, instead of the usual 8,000 feet. And because carbon fiber is not vulnerable to corrosion (unlike aluminum), cabin air have more humidity, which should cut down on the dry throats and noses sometimes common on other aircraft. On top of that, the Dreamliner is estimated to be 20 percent more fuel-efficient than current airliners.

The first 787 will go into service at Japan's All Nippon Airways. However, more are sure to start appearing all over the world with Boeing reporting more than 800 orders for Dreamliners. With news like that, it seems the future of aviation is fast approaching.