News

Understanding the Importance of Aviation Auditor Competence

Airlines, MROs, airports, and regulators are all working to meet evolving standards, but at the heart of this effort lies a role that often operates quietly behind the scenes - the auditor.

Driving Competence & Culture: UK Military Aviation Authority 'STEP' Programme

We are proud to be the key delivery partner in the UK Military Aviation Authority's Safety Training for Error Prevention programme, a cornerstone initiative designed to elevate safety knowledge, regulatory understanding, and professional competence across all elements of UK Armed Forces Aviation.

TrustFlight Acquires Baines Simmons, Kenyon Emergency Services, and Redline Assured Security from Wheels Up

TrustFlight Ltd. (“TrustFlight”), a global leader in aviation safety and compliance solutions, today announced it has acquired Baines Simmons, Kenyon Emergency Services, and Redline Assured Security from Wheels Up.

Defence Aviation Safety Conference 2025

We are a proud sponsor and exhibitor of the Defence Aviation Safety Conference 2025 on the 6th - 7th October 2025 in Kensington, London. The focus of the event is securing the skies through innovation, interoperability, and resilience in a digital age.

A Look at Aviation Risk Management Solutions: Safety Issue Risk Assessment

Triaging alone does not effectively manage risk. Once an organisation identifies a recurring pattern or hazard theme, the question becomes: how serious is this issue in context, and what level of control or mitigation is needed?

Delivering the Safety Training for Error Prevention (STEP) Programme

The STEP programme is designed to improve skills and awareness of air safety and enhance the effectiveness of the Aviation Safety Management System within UK military aviation on behalf of the Military Aviation Authority (MAA), which forms part of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA).

Understanding Fatigue Risk Management

If you are an organisation with shifts, variable workload or are safety critical, it is important to understand what your fatigue risk exposure is, and how Fatigue Risk Management can support your risk management within your management system.

A Look at Aviation Risk Management Solutions: Event Risk Classification

ARMS Event Risk Classification (ERC) tool – used to triage safety reports/events to identify if immediate intervention is required and indicate the appropriate level of further investigation.

What does a Performance Assessment entail?

To help organisations optimise their safety and business performance, we offer Management System Performance Assessments that provide evidenced analysis of any gaps that are impacting performance and maturity of your Management System, and work with you to develop an effective improvement plan.

What is safety assurance and what does it entail?

Safety assurance looks at system performance, enabling organisations to rely on their Management System to provide the right information to make risk-based, data-driven decisions.

Role of leadership in Just Culture

When it comes to embedding and driving a Just Culture, the role of leadership is critical. This applies to senior management, but also to those within an organisation that people look up to and follow.

Key takeaways from the Safety Forum 2025

After attending the Safety Forum 2025, Consultant Liam Bell shares his key takeaways and insights from the event.

How the FAiR System supports an effective Just Culture

When things go wrong, an investigation is conducted to understand what has happened and why. It's what you do next that's critical. Our Flowchart Analysis of Investigation Results (FAiR) System can support you in unlocking the full potential of your Just Culture.

Understanding the role of Just Culture and the management of Commander’s Discretion in managing fatigue risk

We must ensure that we are managing fatigue in an environment that is Just.

Guide to Understanding Just Culture

Just Culture strikes a delicate balance between fostering open and honest reporting and holding individuals accountable for their actions.

How organisations can benefit from a Just Culture

Our Senior Consultant Pete Hibbert delves into the topic of Just Culture with our Marketing Manager Bethan Flynn, discussing errors and violations and the importance of creating a culture where staff feel empowered to report errors and rules they have broken.

Understanding competence with SKATE

Our Senior Consultant John Wallace and Consultant Cameron Cain-Jones discuss the use of the SKATE model and the shift in how organisations can ensure staff competence.

Reflecting on military experience

In our latest video, our Managing Principal Consultant Steve Hough and Senior Consultant Stuart Grimsey reflect on their military experience.

Webinar - Just Culture in Action: Investigating, Understanding, and Learning with FAiR3

An effective Just Culture creates an atmosphere of trust by encouraging and empowering team members to report errors. 

Our model for an effective Management System

Our Safety Management and Risk Reduction Toolkit (SMARRT MAP) goes beyond the Four Pillars of an SMS, covering regulatory compliance and five enablers. 

Celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day

Thursday 8th May 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

How do you know your Management System is working?

Discover methods for analysing your Management System and to gain a full understanding of how it is working.

What should a Management System do for an Accountable Manager?

How a Management System can be utilised to make informed, risk-based, and data-driven decisions.

Fatigue Risk Management Competency in European Flight Operations

Fatigue training is competency-based training and must be delivered across the organisation, not just to the crew.

Who Are Baines Simmons?

Managing Director Ian Holder FRAeS shares how our passion for safety fuels the Baines Simmons team to elevate safety for our clients.

Management System Assessment Tool (MSAT): Explained

Our Managing Principal Consultant, Steve Hough, explains the EASA Management System Assessment Tool (MSAT).

Integrated Management System: How They Can Enable Growth

Discover the exciting ways Ontic are integrating Management Systems to enable growth, including sharing a picture of what that looks like across multiple approvals and standards.

Sleep Health and Fatigue Risk Management

Our Marketing Manager, Bethan Flynn and our Fatigue Risk Management expert, Sarah Booth, discuss the important elements of sleep health.

The importance of making sleep health a priority

Learn how and why sleep health should be made a priority and what you can do to improve your sleep health.

Reflections on Fatigue Risk Management in European Flight Operations

The current challenges with Fatigue Risk Management within European Flight Operations and some best practices on how to address these.

Overview of our Accountable Managers and Nominated Persons workshop

Accountable Managers and Nominated Persons from across the aviation industry discuss key topics and address areas of concern in a thought leadership workshop.

European Plan for Aviation Safety 2025 – what’s new?

Our Managing Principal Consultant Steve Hough reviews this latest edition of EPAS, summarising the key takeaways, including the new higher-risk safety issues, to help you get the most out of this publication.

How to Influence Positive Safety Culture

Our Principal Consultant, Simon Nicholls explores how behaviours can influence safety and the steps to influence safety culture.

Safety Management Systems into Design Organisations

Our Consultant Jack Coleman explains the importance of the Safety Management element for design organisations.

Managing Fatigue in Part 145

Senior Consultant, John Wallace delves into the risks of fatigue in Part 145 and highlights strategies in managing fatigue to help create a safer and more productive work environment.

Baines Simmons to exhibit at the Saudi Airport Exhibition

What does the introduction of new Ground Handling regulation mean for your organisation?

Within this blog, we look at the introduction of Integrated/Safety Management Systems (IMS/SMS) as one of the biggest shifts within Ground Handling.

The Importance of Effective Problem Solving

Effective problem solving is crucial for any organisation aiming to maintain and improve its management system, enhance operational efficiency, and prevent recurring issues.

Baines Simmons will be exhibiting at the IATA World Safety and Operations Conference

We’re excited to be exhibiting at the IATA World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) on the 1st-3rd October in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Competence Development Pathways

Our Senior Account Manager, Mark Streatfield, delves into our Competence Development Pathways which are a comprehensive tool designed to help individuals, teams, and organisations assess and enhance core knowledge and skills.

Frequently Asked Questions on Fatigue Risk Management

Our experts shed light on the frequently asked questions surrounding Fatigue Risk Management, in relation to the aviation industry and services offered by aviation safety services Baines Simmons.

SMS Implementation: What Do You Need to Know

Director, Bob Simmons, and Senior Business Development Manager, Sarah Winter discuss the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS).

The purpose of CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation)

Our Senior Consultant, Paul White, discusses the role of the CAMO and what the benefits are of having a good CAMO.

What Makes a Good Finding in a Compliance Monitoring Audit?

Findings should not be seen as a criticism of either the organisation or the individual, rather they should be treated as a learning opportunity for the continuous improvement of the management system as required by the basic regulation.

LOSA: Frequently Asked Questions

A Line Operations Safety Audit (or Assessment) (LOSA) is a proactive safety management tool used in the aviation industry to assess and improve safety performance.

Human Factors Essentials for Aircraft and Component Certifying Staff Mod 9 Equivalent - TS133

Senior Consultant, Liam Bell, discusses the Human Factors Essentials for Aircraft and Component Certifying Staff (Mod 9 Equivalent) - TS133 course.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work – The Impact of Climate Change on Workers’ Safety and Health

The Introduction of SMS into FAA Part 145 Approved Repair Stations

The FAA is still on the fence about whether to insist that all 5,000 certified repair shops have safety management systems (SMS), but many U.S. shops operate globally, so they don't really have a choice.

Understanding the 3 Lines of Defence

The 3 Lines of Defence is a concept designed to give confidence to management, clients/customers, shareholders, and regulators that an organisation is actively managing compliance, whilst effectively delivering the required output.

Compliance Verification Engineer in the Military

Our Initial Airworthiness Consultant Jack Coleman, discusses the role of Compliance Verification Engineers (CVEs), with a particular focus on those within the military sector.

Who is Responsible for Compliance?

Compliance can encompass a wide range of areas, such as regulatory, corporate, industry specific, data privacy and security. Effectively, all of these can be described as meeting requirements or following/adhering to process.

Baines Simmons and MOD Extend Partnership for Enhanced Aviation Safety Standards in UK Military

Promoting a Unified Understanding of Human Behaviour: The Essence of Just Culture

Just Culture should be ingrained in our daily conversations, managerial support systems, approach to problem-solving, and even in audits and performance evaluations.

Understanding BowTie XP

Hear from our Consultant Liam Bell, where he discusses BowTie XP, one of the leading software for creating and managing BowTie diagrams.

Baines Simmons wins Feefo Platinum Trusted Award for the fifth year in a row

Baines Simmons, a World leading aviation safety training and consulting company, part of Air Partner Group, has secured the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award for the fifth consecutive year.

Getting the most out of your CAMO

Hear from Director Bob Simmons where he explains what impact an effective Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) can have and how to get the most out of your CAMO.

Def Stan 00-056: Love it or hate it

The UK MAA have recently released revision 8 of RA1205, which regards Air System Safety Cases. The Safety Case owners now need to ensure compliance with RA1205, and this seems to be driving renewed interest in the role of Def Stan 00-056.

Design Organisation Approval: The Integration of Safety Management and Organisation Performance

The introduction of ICAO Annex 19 (Safety Management System) has provided a stimulus for Regulators (such as EASA) to move towards a “Performance Based Environment”.

System of support for nominated persons

Director Bob Simmons discusses how important nominated persons are, what support there is for them to fulfil their role and how an organisation can manage its compliance.

Fatigue Risk Management for the UK Heavy and Light Rail Industry

This article provides a view on how those within the UK Heavy and Light Rail industry can act to improve the effectiveness of their FRMS, based on our years of experience supporting operators implementing FRMS.

An Introduction to BowTie

Liam Bell, Baines Simmons Consultant, introduces BowTie Methodology, including what BowTie is, where it originates from and how it supports Safety Management Systems (SMS).

Reliability Programme Skills

How do we define reliability? The regulations give us some guidance particularly Part M and Part CAMO. Put simply, an aircraft, system or component can be described as reliable, if under a defined operating environment...

Implementing SMS into the Ground Handling environment

Ground handling is a challenging environment that requires a balance of planned, choreographed, coordinated and ultimately a “ballet” of movements.

Strategies for calming a racing mind when trying to sleep

Helping Part 145 and 21 understand how to build in SMS requirements for business performance

Baines Simmons supporting the New Zealand Defence Force implement a contemporary aviation system

Our Services to Part 21 industry – the Safety Management Element

Part 21 industry, since 7th March 2023, is now implementing the Safety Management Element (SMe) as the latest regulation became applicable.

Dr Cristina Ruscitto, Senior Consultant, FRM, shares her experience of working in aviation

To celebrate Women of Aviation, we’ve asked Dr Cristina Ruscitto, to share details of her experience of working in aviation.

Air Partner appoints Jonathan Astill as Executive Vice President of Services Division

Jonathan Astill is appointed Executive Vice President of the Services Division comprising Baines Simmons, Redline Assured Security, and Kenyon Emergency Services.

Baines Simmons wins Feefo Trusted Service Award for fourth consecutive year

Leading aviation safety specialist Baines Simmons, part of the Services Division of the aviation group, Air Partner, has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award 4 years in a row.

New year, familiar faces: three consultants re-join the team as safety specialists Baines Simmons

Paul White and Craig Simmonds re-joined the company in October and Andy Llewellyn will return for March.

Key takeaway from the EASA Certification Conference 2022

Consultant Jack Coleman shares his key takeaways from the EASA Certification Conference 2022, where the EASA Certification Directorate shared the latest updates on certification activities.

STEP Training

In an issue of the RAF Total Safety Magazine, Air Clues, Senior Consultant Peter Hibbert discusses how we continue to manage, on behalf of the MAA, the MOD’s Safety Training for Error Prevention (STEP) programme.

System Management into Part 21 – how are industry reacting?

The ICAO Annex 19 Safety Management System approach has been released against Part 21 legalisation. The aim of such, is to recognise the limitations of human and organisational performance.

Baines Simmons Awarded Contract with the UK Civil Aviation Authority

Baines Simmons has been awarded a contract with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) to develop and deliver a comprehensive eLearning programme for the entire UK flying display community.

Safety Management Systems (SMS) Into Part 21 Organisations

Safety Management Systems (SMS) is ICAO’s, and subsequent aviation authorities, response to mitigate the limits of human performance in relation to aircraft safety.

A Holistic Approach to Risk

A Holistic Approach to Risk - article by Managing Director Ian Holder for IIRSM's member magazine

Tips for getting to sleep

Sleep is crucial and plays an important role in your physical and mental health. The amount of sleep you require can vary for different individuals but the amount of sleep you achieve in 24 hours can easily be affected by various factors.

Baines Simmons Responds to Surge in Demand as Aviation Industry Takes-Off

Baines Simmons, part of the Services Division of global aviation services group, Air Partner, a Wheels Up company, has seen increased demand for safety training as airlines and airports prepare for take-off this summer

World Sleep Day Feature: what is a good night’s sleep?

Good quality sleep is a key building block in maintaining and improving our physical, mental, and emotional state. It is foundational to human health.

An introduction to Baines Simmons

Having set up Baines Simmons over 20 years ago, in our new video Bob Simmons, Director and co-founder, reflects on what the motivation was to create the company.

IIRSM and Baines Simmons announce partnership

Aviation safety experts Baines Simmons and the risk management professional membership organisation IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management) today announced a new partnership.

EMAR News and Insights from Bob Simmons

Bob Simmons, Director, shares some of the successes and ideas around ensuring you get the best value for money in your implementation.

The Benefits of Virtual Consulting

You have a functioning management system which meets all the regulatory requirements, but the move to performance based regulation will require you to demonstrate its effectiveness.

World Aviation Safety Summit (WASS 21)

How can your audit function measure the performance of your compliance monitoring management system and assure your stakeholders that compliance is being managed effectively?

Aviation safety specialist Baines Simmons wins Feefo customer service award for third consecutive year

Baines Simmons has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award for the third consecutive year following exceptional reviews of its training services by customers.

How to change my sleep habits in order to get more sleep

Getting enough sleep (7-9 hours of sleep per 24-hour period1) is one of the best things we can do for our health, mood, and performance.

Baines Simmons launches flexible cabin crew safety training programme as airlines increase recruitment drive

Baines Simmons has launched a bespoke cabin crew safety programme service for airlines as the recruitment of cabin crew teams has increased.

Introducing new Associate Consultants to the Baines Simmons team

We are delighted have welcomed new Associate Consultants to the Baines Simmons team. With decades of experience between them covering every aspect of the aviation industry.

Jetlag - how best to reduce the symptoms and adapt your body clock

Every cell in our body has a natural circadian (24-hour) rhythm, which is controlled by our body clock, located in the brain.

Baines Simmons launches Partner Plus – Training Rewards Programme

Partner Plus provides the opportunity for organisations to become loyalty members and, amongst other rewards, provides price discounts for organisations purchasing training in bulk quantities.

Managing Director, Ian Holder reflects on the highlights and demands of the past year

Managing Director, Ian Holder reflects on the highlights and demands of the past year and explains how we have been working with operators with Line Operation Safety Audits.

The benefits of sleep for sporting performance

Research has shown that athletes who are able to sleep longer than the recommended amount, e.g. ‘bank’ or extend sleep by 1-2 hours a night, for a few days ahead of a competition, can optimise their performance.

Safety expert Ian Holder, Managing Director at Baines Simmons to speak at Helitech Expo 2021

Baines Simmons is delighted to be exhibiting at the Helitech Expo (Stand 574) one of the UK’s largest events for the aviation and the vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL) industries.

Leading aviation safety experts, Baines Simmons, helping airlines to safely ramp up operations

The recently launched ‘BE READY and STAY SAFE’ campaign from EASA, is designed to assist the aviation industry to manage critical safety issues.

How sleeping more can help me to become a better team leader

Team leaders have the capacity to lift up and support their team so they can reach their full potential. If you are a team leader, getting adequate sleep is an essential way you can stay strong for your team.

How to reduce the impact of nicotine on sleep

You can add ‘sleep better’ to the very long list of reasons to quit smoking. Similar to caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant, which people use because of its alerting properties.

Air Partner to launch National Safety & Security Academy (NSSA)

The National Safety and Security Academy (NSSA) will provide Baines Simmons safety training and Redline Assured Security training for the aviation industry under one roof.

2020 IATA Fact Sheet gives an interesting insight into current levels of safety performance across Global Commercial Air Transport

The 2020 IATA Fact Sheet gives an interesting insight into current levels of global safety performance.

Baines Simmons pledges support to the Armed Forces Covenant

We are proud to announce that we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, further pledging our support towards the Armed Forces community.

Revenge bedtime procrastination

The term ‘Revenge Bedtime Procrastination’ originates from China where people can work a ‘996’ schedule, working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. However, it’s a behaviour that many of us may recognise.

Daily routines and sleep

Over this last year, many of us have lost our usual daily routines, with no commute, lunchtimes with colleagues or clear time differences between office and home time.

World Sleep Day: How to Avoid ‘Revenge Bedtime Procrastination’

With recent research finding that the typical UK home worker is working two hours a day more than before the coronavirus crisis began, Baines Simmons is concerned that employees are more likely to fall into the habit of ‘Revenge Bedtime Procrastination’.

How not to lose sleep over fatigue – The importance of implementing effective fatigue risk management systems

19 March marks World Sleep Day, an annual event designed to raise awareness of the “importance of sleep for achieving an optimal quality of life and improved global health”.

Updated Course: TS01 Management Systems – Safety Responsibilities

We are delighted to announce a complete update to our popular, 1 day, TS01 Management System Course, formerly “SMS -Essentials for Aviation Professionals” now re-named “Management Systems – Safety Responsibilities”. 

Introducing new Associate Consultants to the Baines Simmons team - March 2021

We are delighted to have welcomed new Associate Consultants to the Baines Simmons team. With decades of experience between them covering every aspect of the aviation industry.

Say goodnight to fatigue risk with new virtual training course from Baines Simmons

With the Covid-19 pandemic causing disarray it’s never been more vital for employers to consider the impact of fatigue on their workforce.

Say Goodnight to Fatigue Risk With New Virtual Training Course From Baines Simmons

Baines Simmons, aviation safety specialists, have developed a new training course designed to help Air Operators to gain increased understanding of Fatigue Risk Management (FRM).

The Experience and Benefits of Virtual Consulting

When running a diagnostic, we pride ourselves on really getting under the skin of an organisation, to fully understand how an organisation works and to gain insight into its quirks and culture.

Platinum Standard – Aviation Safety Specialist Baines Simmons Wins Highest Feefo Award for Second Year Running

The Platinum Trusted Service award is the highest level of distinction that Feefo bestows.

Understanding the consequences of alcohol on sleep

Alcohol will make you sleepy, but you won’t sleep well for about an hour after your first alcoholic drink, your brain is stimulated to release dopamine, the so-called “happy hormone”.

Extended hours

In order to maintain a high level of alertness and performance, we are best suited to being awake for no more than about 16 hours following 8 hours of good quality sleep, although these values can differ slightly among individuals.

Baines Simmons Partners With New Zealand Defence Force to Provide Bespoke Virtual Training Programme

Baines Simmons has partnered with the New Zealand Defence Force to provide a bespoke virtual training programme.

Managing driver sleepiness

Sleepiness contributes to approximately 1 in 5 fatal and serious road accidents. When we are feeling sleepy, for example after a night shift, driving is one of the most dangerous things we can do.

Press Release – Air Partner and RealHelp Doncaster Partner to Support those living through Homelessness

“We encourage staff to take two ‘volunteer days’ per year to work with charities and organisations to support their local community," explains CEO Mark Briffa.

Sleep, wellbeing and the pandemic

Discussion of fatigue in aviation incidents is often focused on pilots and cabin crew, with less attention provided to maintenance engineers responsible for round-the-clock planned and reactive maintenance of aircraft.

Dying for a break? Human factors and fatigue management in the MRO sector

Discussion of fatigue in aviation incidents is often focused on pilots and cabin crew, with less attention provided to maintenance engineers responsible for round-the-clock planned and reactive maintenance of aircraft.

Certifying Skills Staff Training Blog – Continuing Airworthiness Consultant John Elkin

In these difficult times living with COVID has been a daily challenge for us all which we’ve had to address both at work and at home.

Press Release – Air Partner Safety & Security Division Reveals Top Virtual and e-Learning Courses in 2020

Over 70% of surveyed Baines Simmons clients expressed an interest in virtual training solutions as part of a long-term blended solution, post-pandemic as well.

Expert advice on adapting body clocks, as daylight savings end

For many people, the way their natural internal body clock is inclined can make the demands and schedules of work and lifestyles especially challenging.

What is social jetlag?

This holiday period may see fewer of us taking to the skies and therefore not experiencing the jetlag that comes with long-haul travel. However, there is another type of jetlag, social jetlag, which you can experience even if holidaying closer to home.

The continuing adoption/adaption of EMARs within the Military Aviation Environment

Despite the devastating impact of Covid 19 on humanity and the impact it continues to cause, some organisations have prospered whilst others have struggled to function.

Wildlife Hazard Management fleet upgraded

William Bell, General Manager of our Wildlife Hazard Management division, talks about the process of improving the 37-strong fleet and why, for our wildlife hazard operators, it’s more than just a vehicle.

Principal Consultant, Steve Hough, shares behind the scenes insight into how we’ve adapted our training to the virtual environment.

Adapting the course involved a lot of work but it was definitely time well spent.

Implementing Safety Training in Part 21 organisations

These changes are aimed at improving the safety of aircraft operations and impact not just the operators but those organisations who contribute to the safety of the operator and currently the public.

How to promote creativity and wellbeing through dreams

During a typical night’s sleep, everyone dreams but while some people easily and often remember their dreams, other people can’t recall their dreams.

Helping the C-Suite to Manage Fatigue in Challenging Times

Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on businesses globally, with top C-suite executives having to make decisions that they might have never thought to have considered.

Consultant John Elkin explains the success of Virtual Training in 2020

Virtual training has been an incredibly important component of the training calendar this year due to the COVID pandemic and has enabled us to continue delivering training throughout both lockdown and tier restrictions.

Post-Covid 19: Enhancing Business Performance Through Effective Safety Management

All service providers are grappling with what it means to manage aviation safety whilst balancing the commercial needs of their respective businesses.