The perspective of the aviation organizations on the ICAO’s SMS framework: a spherical fuzzy AHP study

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has developed a Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure safety in aviation organizations. SMS components are essential to overall safety performance in aviation organizations. However, the importance of these components may be perceived differently among different aviation organizations. This study aims to evaluate the perception of the importance of ICAO SMS components in aviation organizations in Turkey using the Global Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (SFAHP). The sample of the research consists of managers and employees of different aviation organizations. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire and analyzed via the SFAHP method. The results of this study indicate that all ICAO SMS components were considered important by the participants. In this context, hazard identification, training, and education and safety risk assessment and mitigation are the most important components. The study also revealed that the perception of the importance of SMS components differs between different types of aviation organizations. The SMS components with the highest deviation are listed as the appointment of key safety personnel, safety risk assessment and mitigation and management commitment. Therefore, the study provides valuable information regarding the perception of the importance of ICAO SMS components in aviation organizations.