Aviation Safety Management, Risk and Regulation MSc

Cranfield University

Most aviation organisations already operate safety management systems (SMS), but their effectiveness can vary significantly. This module takes a critical and in-depth look at the effectiveness of SMS in practice. It explores key elements such as safety assurance methods, organisational safety culture, and the concept of resilience in complex systems.

The module also examines a range of risk assessment approaches, encouraging students to evaluate their strengths, limitations, and suitability in different operational contexts.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) framework provides common standards to enable the continuing growth of the industry while aiming to improve the safety performance. In recent years, the shift from ‘Compliance based’ to ‘Performance Based’ approach to regulation and oversight, has been implemented by some of the leading regulatory authorities such as UK CAA, Transport Canada etc. Furthermore, the application of these concepts can also be by the service providers in the industry to manage safety in the most efficient way.

Aviation is a human-in-the loop system. Humans are represented at all levels of the organisation from leadership to the operator on the front line. Resilience emerges through interaction across this complex socio-technical system. This demands consideration of many organisations involved in the operation including, for example regulators, operators and manufacturers.

Capturing the required high organisational performance is key to maintaining and improving high levels of safety in an evolving system. This module considers aviation from both organisational and individual perspectives. Models, tools and techniques are examined to capture, appraise and mitigate risks that emerge due to the interactive complexity of the system.

This course is based around a case study approach to aircraft accident investigation. Students will have the opportunity to experience important elements of aircraft accident investigation from initial notification of an event through to generating and communicating investigative findings.

Students will be presented with a simulated accident scenario during which they will be exposed to all elements of the investigation such as evidence collection, interviewing, analysis and the generation of safety recommendations.

Analysis of current existing hazards is fundamental for understanding of the associated risks and develop effective mitigation strategies. Regulatory authorities and service providers in the industry can benefit from the independent studies as limited resources prevent them from being able to carry out such analyses for all the identified risks themselves. This is an opportunity for students to work independently and as a member of a team to assess an existing safety issue already identified by a service provider (e.g. operator, aerodrome, design / production organisation, maintenance organisation, air navigation service provider) or a regulatory authority (e.g. CAA, EASA). The assessment of the associated risks and development of mitigation strategies is undertaken as a group project.

The aim of the module is to synthesise elements of the first two modules and give students the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and apply the skills they gained by conducting a group project.

Analysis of emerging hazards is fundamental for in-depth understanding of the associated risks and develop effective mitigation strategies. Regulatory authorities and service providers in the industry can benefit from the independent studies as limited resources prevent them from being able to carry out such analyses themselves. This is an opportunity for students to work independently and as a member of a team to analyse an emerging complex safety issue; the latter may already have been identified by a service provider / regulatory authority or be based on a new topic from independent research. The assessment of associated risks and development of mitigation strategies is undertaken as a group project.

The aim of the module is to synthesise elements of all four taught modules and give students the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and apply the skills - in particular from the module Responding to Risk in Sociotechnical systems.

The award of a Masters’ degree resulting from a taught programme of study requires the student to submit a thesis based on a structured programme of research. This structured programme can be delivered through collaboration with an industrial sponsor; although it may be driven by research interests of the Faculty's academics. Last, seventh module of course with start in December of the second year with a value of 60 credits which equals to approximately 600 hours.