Diploma in Safety Management Systems (SMS) and LOSA
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in safety management systems (SMS) and LOSA: 8 modules covering safety management, hazard identification, risk assessment, safety assurance, LOSA fundamentals and execution, and safety promotion, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the components of a safety management system.
Identify hazards from multiple data sources.
Assess and mitigate risks using recognised methodologies.
Define safety performance indicators.
Apply the threat and error management model.
Plan and run a LOSA programme.
Promote a positive safety culture.
Who it's for
- Safety managers at airlines and aviation organisations.
- SMS managers responsible for implementation and oversight.
- LOSA observers and pilots involved in line observation.
- Safety data analysts working with FDM and occurrence reports.
- Aviation safety auditors.
- Safety consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to work for airlines.
What you'll work with
- ICAO Annex 19 (safety management)
- ICAO Doc 9859 (Safety Management Manual)
- Regulation (EU) 376/2014 (reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences)
- ICAO Doc 9803 (Line Operations Safety Audit)
- Regulation (EU) 965/2012, ORO.GEN.200 (management system requirements for air operators)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (EASA Basic Regulation)
- ISO 31000:2018 (risk management guidelines)
- ECCAIRS 2
- Q-Pulse
- BowTieXP
- Power BI
- Python (pandas)
8 modules
1.1Evolution of safety thinking1.2ICAO Annex 191.3State safety programme1.4The four components of SMS1.5Responsibilities of the accountable manager1.6Integrating SMS with quality1.7EASA requirements ORO.GEN.2001.8Proportionality for small organisations1.9SMS maturity1.10Workshop: gap analysis of an existing SMS
2.1Mandatory and voluntary reporting2.2Regulation (EU) 376/2014 on occurrences2.3Just culture in reporting2.4FDM data analysis2.5Safety surveys and inspections2.6ADREP taxonomy and ECCAIRS2.7Hazards in flight operations2.8Hazards in maintenance and ground operations2.9Hazard register2.10Practical: building a hazard register
3.1Probability and severity matrix3.2ARMS operational risk assessment methodology3.3Threat analysis with bow-tie3.4Preventive and recovery barriers3.5Tolerability and the ALARP criterion3.6Management of change3.7Identification of emerging risks3.8Tracking of mitigation actions3.9Assessment of control effectiveness3.10Lab: bow-tie diagram of a runway excursion
4.1Safety performance indicators (SPIs)4.2Safety objectives and targets4.3Continuous monitoring and measurement4.4Internal occurrence investigations4.5Internal SMS audits4.6Management review4.7Continuous improvement of the system4.8Integration of data from multiple sources4.9Safety dashboards4.10Practical: defining SPIs for an airline
5.1Origin and principles of LOSA5.2The threat and error management model5.3Ten operating characteristics of LOSA5.4Threats, errors and undesired states5.5Observers and their training5.6Confidentiality and voluntary participation5.7ICAO Doc 98035.8Relationship with CRM5.9LOSA in maintenance and air traffic control5.10Case study: TEM classification of an observed flight
6.1Planning and steering committee6.2Selection of flight samples6.3Observation form6.4Data collection and validation6.5Coding of threats and errors6.6Statistical analysis of results6.7Report and recommendations6.8Communication to flight crews6.9Repetition and comparison of cycles6.10Practical: analysis of a set of LOSA observations
7.1SMS training for all staff7.2Safety communication7.3Lessons learned and bulletins7.4SMS documentation7.5Emergency response plan7.6Coordination with suppliers7.7Safety in complex organisations7.8Digital SMS tools7.9Trends in risk-based safety7.10Case study: safety promotion campaign
8.1Description of the organisation8.2SMS gap analysis8.3Initial hazard register8.4Assessment of priority risks8.5Proposed performance indicators8.6Design of the LOSA programme8.7Safety promotion plan8.8Implementation roadmap8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ECCAIRS 2, Q-Pulse, BowTieXP, Power BI and Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: implementation of safety management systems at airlines, LOSA observations on the flight deck and risk assessments with bow-tie diagrams. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ICAO Annex 19, ICAO Doc 9859 (Safety Management Manual), Regulation (EU) 376/2014, ICAO Doc 9803 (LOSA), Regulation (EU) 965/2012 (ORO.GEN.200), Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, ISO 31000:2018.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ECCAIRS 2, Q-Pulse, BowTieXP, Power BI and Python (pandas), using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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