CANSO Standard of Excellence in Safety Management Systems

The CANSO Standard of Excellence in Safety Management Systems helps ANSPs build, implement and improve their Safety Management Systems (SMS) to suit the size and operational complexity of their organisation, reflect industry best practices and meet international standards.

This latest version (February 2023) incorporates recent developments in safety management thinking and practice and aligns with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) Annex on Safety Management (Annex 19).

The CANSO Standard of Excellence in Safety Management Systems provides ANSPs with the tools to:

  • Measure and understand SMS maturity against industry standards
  • Make a business case for safety improvements
  • Build and develop an SMS that meets their requirements and harmonises global operations
  • Demonstrate alignment with regulation, including ICAO’s Annex 19
  • Share key learnings and best practice across the industry

ANSPs can use the CANSO Standard of Excellence in Safety Management Systems as a self-assessment tool to ensure all aspects of their SMS are developed. It covers the main elements of Annex 19 and and beyond, to include leading practices from across the industry.

Further information

If you would like advice on how to best undertake a safety assessment and the other tools available to you as a CANSO Member, please get in touch.

The CANSO Standard of Excellence in Safety Management Systems and the EUROCONTROL/CANSO Standard of Excellence in Safety Management Systems Maturity Questionnaire are the foundations for CANSO’s Standard of Excellence in Air Navigation Services – Safety (SEANS-Safety) initiative. If you would like to find out more about the undertaking a SEANS-Safety assessment, please contact us.

Safety