Industry Day - March 2025
Industry Day - March 2025
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Aviation Experts Gather in Halifax to Tackle Safety Management Challenges
SM ICG Industry Day 2025: "Practice Makes Improvement: Embracing Non-Linear Progress Towards Safety Enhancement"
On March 18, 2025, aviation experts from around the world met in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the Safety Management International Collaboration Group’s (SM ICG) Industry Day. This year’s theme, “Practice Makes Improvement: Embracing Non-Linear Progress Towards Safety Enhancement,” explored how progress in aviation safety doesn’t always follow a straight path—but that consistent effort still leads to meaningful improvements.
The event brought together around 80 participants from across the aviation sector, including representatives from 12 SM ICG member countries, civil aviation authorities (CAAs), and various industry stakeholders.
What is the SM ICG?
Formed in 2009, the SM ICG brings together 19 aviation regulatory bodies with one shared mission: to promote a common understanding of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and support their implementation across the global aviation industry. The group publishes practical safety materials on SKYbrary and holds regular meetings to exchange knowledge and best practices.
Since 2012, the SM ICG has hosted “Industry Day” events alongside its bi-annual meetings. These full-day events provide a space for aviation professionals to connect directly with regulators, share experiences, discuss common challenges, and help shape the future of safety oversight.
Opening Remarks and Acknowledgments
The day began with a land acknowledgment by Mireille Lapensée, Program Manager, Technical and Regulatory Coordination with Transport Canada, recognizing the traditional territories of the Mi’kmaw, Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey, Peskotomuhkati, Inuit, and Innu peoples—ancestral lands where Transport Canada operates in the Atlantic Region.
Mireille then welcomed both Canadian participants and international guests, introducing the speakers and outlining the day’s agenda.
Collaboration and Context
Stacey Mason, Regional Director for Civil Aviation in the Atlantic Region with Transport Canada, emphasized the importance of cooperation between regulators and the industry. He highlighted Transport Canada’s oversight responsibilities in the region, ongoing safety initiatives, and some of the key challenges currently facing aviation in Canada.
Following Stacey, Andrew Larsen—Chair of SM ICG for 2025 and Head, International Aviation Policy & Engagement at Transport Canada—addressed the crowd. He thanked participants for attending and stressed the importance of international collaboration in improving aviation safety. Andrew reaffirmed the group’s focus on risk-based decision-making, regulatory engagement, and continuous improvement in safety practices.
The Day’s Theme: “Practice Makes Improvement: Embracing Non-Linear Progress Towards Safety Enhancement”
Andrew introduced the event’s theme by rethinking the old phrase “Practice Makes Perfect.” In aviation safety, he argued, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Every effort, whether it leads to success or setback, contributes to safer skies. Andrew pointed out that the journey of improving Safety Management Systems (SMS) is often non-linear. In other words, safety enhancements don’t always happen in a straight line; there can be detours, challenges, and lessons along the way. The theme recognized that improvement is a process—sometimes messy, but always valuable. And just like in aviation, where rigorous practice and learning from experience are essential, embracing that imperfect process leads to better outcomes over time.
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Industry Day Event Archive
The SM ICG, a group of 19 aviation regulatory bodies, was established in 2009. Since its formation, the group has produced over 30 products and has begun to focus more on outreach to the greater international aviation community. To that end, the SM ICG holds Industry Day events during its semi-annual meetings. Read more about other SM ICG Industry Day events.
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