Textron Aviation's customer support organisation has received acceptance from the FAA for its Corporate Enterprise safety management system (SMS) at its Wichita and Indianapolis service centre locations.

Corporate Enterprise SMS is a comprehensive and systematic approach to managing safety within aviation, encompassing a robust framework of policies, processes and procedures for the identification, analysis and control of potential hazards. The primary objective is to implement a structured management plan that effectively mitigates risks, creating a collaborative aviation ecosystem for all stakeholders involved. Textron is a voluntary participant in the FAA's Corporate Enterprise SMS programme, which is not yet mandated for repair stations.

“Our customers can have full confidence that Textron Aviation is leading the way in the adoption of safety management systems in the general aviation industry,” says senior vice president of customer support Brian Rohloff. “With FAA acceptance of our safety management system, this milestone reflects our dedication to ensuring up-to-date, high standards of safety, offering our customers peace of mind and trust in our services.”

Textron Aviation's 11 US-based company-owned service centres have fully embraced the SMS procedures for more than a year, with its Wichita and Indianapolis facilities already evaluated and accepted by the FAA. The remaining service centers are on track for evaluation, with FAA acceptance anticipated by the end of the year.

Once FAA acceptance is secured, annual oversight audits will be conducted to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.