EVALUASI PENERAPAN SAFETY ASSURANCEDALAM SISTEM MANAJEMEN KESELAMATAN PADA ORGANISASI PELATIHAN PENERBANGAN

Aviation safety is the primary foundation for the sustainability and
credibility of the global aviation industry. To strengthen the safety system, the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires all aviation organizations,
including Approved Training Organizations (ATOs), to implement a Safety
Management System (SMS) consisting of four main pillars, namely Safety Policy,
Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. The Safety
Assurance element plays a strategic role as an internal monitoring mechanism to
ensure that the safety strategies, policies, and processes implemented are running
effectively and sustainably. This study evaluates the implementation of SMS at
Palembang Aviation Polytechnic, an ATO in Indonesia. Using a mixed-methods
approach, data were collected from 45 personnel via Likert-scale questionnaires,
interviews, and document analysis. Results indicate strong performance in internal
audits (mean = 4.04) and safety monitoring (mean = 3.77), but weaknesses in hazard
reporting (mean = 3.31) and change management (mean = 3.33). Qualitative findings
reveal a fear-based reporting culture and reactive change processes. Triangulation
highlights gaps between perception and practice, emphasizing the need for a ‘Just
Culture’ framework and risk-based change management. The study contributes a
model for enhancing SMS in aviation education, addressing a critical gap in non-elite
ATO contexts.