Samenvatting

This paper introduces the AVAC-SMS maturity metric and its accompanying tool which were developed in the frame of a research project with the aim to suggest new safety metrics, especially for Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The metric is based on the ICAO Safety Management Manual, it was designed by applying the Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) technique and it was reviewed by companies, authorities and field experts. It can be used to assess the institutionalisation, capability and effectiveness of an aviation SMS by following a systematic approach that employs the use of information from the safety department, managers and employees of an organisation. The AVAC-SMS maturity metric is uniform for the aviation sector, customisable to the size and complexity of the organisation, and results in numerical scores that can be used to monitor SMS maturity levels over time or perform benchmarking among companies.