Experience Sharing to Enhance Safety Management Systems (ES2) aims to evolve from basic implementation to continuous improvement of an organization’s safety culture. EUROCONTROL offers direct and practical support to air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and functional air blocks (FABs) as they implement tailored safety management systems. Through ES2, EUROCONTROL encourages sharing of information and experiences, transitioning from local practices to a broader, success-oriented approach. This shift allows for better performance measurement within the safety management system.
Sharing knowledge among ANSPs and FABs is crucial for refining individual practices and striving for excellence in the dynamic European regulatory landscape. With this goal in mind, EUROCONTROL experts conduct regular local working sessions and hold three plenary meetings each year, culminating in the CEO Safety conference. This event gathers CEOs from ANSPs across Europe to discuss safety management and the adoption of new requirements.
ES2 began in 2010 as an extension of the previous SASI project, which focused on developing best practices for various SMS operations. ANSPs involved in the SASI project provided positive feedback regarding the support they received. The initial phase of the SASI project aimed to implement essential SMS elements by the end of 2005. Many of these objectives were met, achieving a 70% SMS maturity baseline by the end of 2009.
To reach the project’s goals, SASI management adopted a three-pronged strategy: First, they developed materials, including a framework of procedures and training needs, through collaborative sessions with safety managers. Next, local deployment occurred at individual ANSPs, led by safety managers with support from SASI experts. Finally, they focused on continuous improvement, utilizing feedback from safety managers to enhance the efficiency of established procedures.
