Safety Management Systems (SMS) in aviation is a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures. SMS can be defined as a coordinated, comprehensive set of processes designed to direct and control resources to optimally manage safety. SMS takes unrelated processes and builds them into one coherent structure to achieve a higher level of safety performance, making safety management an integral part of overall risk management. SMS is based on leadership and accountability.

It requires proactive hazard identification, risk management, information control, auditing and training. It also includes incident and accident investigation and analysis which may include out-sourced Flight Data Monitoring Service.