A new resource to be rolled out at the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) aims to help smaller business aviation operations strengthen their risk management as many prepare to meet the FAA’s May 2027 deadline for implementation of a safety management system, or SMS.
Developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) in consultation with NBAA and other member associations, the CORE Risk Management program provides practical tools, training and guidance for organizations with limited time and personnel.
“This is a resource that specifically addresses the needs of the small operator community,” said Heidi Williams, NBAA senior vice president, operations. “It is a key tool for operators gearing up for compliance with the FAA’s Part 5 SMS requirement.”
CORE’s five principles emphasize understanding the circumstances behind outcomes, recognizing human limitations, examining everyday work, making safe actions easier and translating lessons into improvements.
The program emphasizes a thorough examination of how employees accomplish daily tasks and adapt to operational challenges. Understanding those practices can reveal gaps between written procedures and actual work, helping leaders better support safe decisions.
Participation requires no existing SMS and involves no external audit. CORE includes an alignment module addressing a pathway toward regulatory compliance, while the overall program focuses on strengthening an organization’s ability to understand and manage risk.
CORE also encourages frontline employees to contribute solutions and helps organizations allocate resources toward risk. Further details will be discussed throughout NBAA-BACE safety sessions, including the NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and Small Operators Symposium, both taking place Monday, Oct. 19.
Williams reiterated CORE offers operators, ground handlers and small maintenance providers another important resource to help organize their safety efforts.
“This is a valuable addition to the SMS toolkit,” she added. “We urge all operators affected by the SMS mandate to examine this and other resources in developing their compliance solution.”