Formal Aviation SMS Training for 2013 Announced by SMS Pro

Jan. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) in Anchorage, Alaska just released their aviation SMS training schedule for 2013. While formal SMS training is not required to use the Web based aviation SMS software, SMS Pro™, it is strongly encouraged.

In 2006, ICAO mandated that all countries ensure their aviation service providers implement formal safety management systems. Challenges that immediately surfaced were the lack of trained managers who understood the fundamentals of aviation safety management systems and secondly, the lack of relevant software tools that these management systems require to manage the enormous amounts of generated data from these systems. Technology expert, Doug Walker, stated that "most airlines and airports started using tools at hand to manage this data. These operators soon became overwhelmed with managing data properly."

Responding to this need, NWDS created the Web based aviation SMS software SMS Pro™, which went into production exactly five years ago. SMS Pro™ is used in most countries around the world by airlines, airports, aviation maintenance operations and flight schools.

Extensive documentation exists online for SMS Pro™ in the form of demo videos, tutorial videos, blogs and text tutorials. However, not everyone is able to learn using the online tools. These tools may not satisfy clients who have special needs or have English as their second language.

NWDS CEO, Christopher Howell, commented that "due to the increasing size and complexity of the aviation software product, we are encouraging managers to send at least one student from each company to be trained in the basic administration of SMS Pro™. We use the 'train-the-trainer' model. These students can then return to their company, whether they are airports, airlines, MROs or even FBOs, and then train their managers on how to use the program."

Currently, there are thousands of SMS Pro™ users using online resources, like http://www.aviation-sms.com or http://www.asms-pro.com to learn the fundamentals of aviation safety management systems. There are over 60 aviation safety modules and learning how they all interoperate can be truly challenging. "That is why we offer week-long training courses in Anchorage, Alaska," stated CEO Christopher Howell. More information about NWDS can be found at http://www.nwds-ak.com

Training schedule can be found at http://asms-pro.com/Training.aspx?evt=2

While SMS Pro™ is available in English, French, German and Spanish, the training resources are only in the international business language of English.