Why Part 145 Repair Stations Are Turning to SMS to Stay Ahead of Regulatory and Industry Expectations

If you’re running a Part 145 repair station, you already know: compliance with the regulations isn’t up for debate. Your manuals, training, tooling, personnel, and documentation all need to line up with FAA standards, or your certificate — and your reputation — are on the line. But the reality is, meeting the baseline requirements laid out in FAR Part 145 is only part of the equation.

Both regulators and customers expect maintenance providers to take an active, structured role in safety — and that expectation is only growing. Whether you’re supporting air carriers, business jets, or international operators, adopting a formal Safety Management System (SMS) is one of the clearest ways to strengthen your safety practices and meet both FAA and EASA expectations.

FAA’s Evolving Position on SMS for Repair Stations

The FAA’s Safety Management Systems Final Rule officially applied to Part 121 air carriers in early 2023, but the agency has made it clear for years that SMS isn’t just an airline framework. Repair stations — especially those servicing complex aircraft or working under contract for operators who are already subject to SMS requirements — are increasingly expected to think and operate with the same proactive safety mindset.

While there’s no blanket mandate yet for Part 145 facilities, the FAA has issued guidance encouraging repair stations to voluntarily develop structured hazard identification processes, formal risk assessments, documented safety assurance activities, and clear safety promotion strategies that drive continuous learning and improvement.

The message is simple: the FAA doesn’t want repair stations waiting for a future rule to start treating SMS like a core part of their operation. The sooner you implement an SMS, the more prepared you’ll be to demonstrate due diligence to both regulators and your customers.

EASA’s Approach to Safety: Beyond Checklists and Sign-Offs

For repair stations working on European-registered aircraft or supporting operators under both FAA and EASA oversight, the expectations around safety are especially clear. European regulators have long emphasized that maintenance organizations must go beyond the basics of checklists and sign-offs. They expect providers to apply human factors principles, monitor error trends, encourage open reporting, and create systems that promote ongoing safety improvement — all core ideas that mirror the foundation of an SMS.

Auditors don’t just check that your records are in order. They look for signs that safety is more than paperwork:

• Are your personnel encouraged to report hazards and near misses?

• Is management tracking and analyzing safety reports, not just filing them away?

• Are recurring risks identified and addressed with long-term corrective actions rather than temporary fixes?

Repair stations that can answer “yes” to these questions — and back it up with clear, consistent processes — don’t just pass audits more smoothly. They position themselves as trusted partners for operators who rely on maintenance not only for compliance, but for keeping their operation airworthy and resilient.

Why Adopting SMS Makes Sense for Your Business

Beyond regulatory pressures, there are real-world business reasons repair stations are adopting SMS:

An SMS gives you the tools to connect your daily maintenance activities with your long-term operational goals — not just from a compliance standpoint, but from a reputation, liability, and customer service perspective.

When you run a formal SMS, you can:

• Identify small hazards before they become major failures

  When technicians and inspectors log risks consistently, management can spot trends early and prevent future disruptions.
  

• Demonstrate a proactive safety posture to customers

  Operators want to work with repair stations that take safety seriously. Showing a structured SMS process sends a clear message about your commitment.
  

• Simplify audits and inspections

  When safety policies, risk assessments, hazard reports, and corrective actions are all documented and traceable, your team can spend less time scrambling for records when the FAA or EASA shows up.
  

• Promote accountability and safety culture across your workforce

  An SMS isn’t just about management oversight. It helps create a shared understanding of risk at every level — from hangar floor to front office.

RISE SMS: Designed to Support Aviation Operations Across the Board

At RISE, we understand the unique challenges that Part 145 repair stations face — balancing rigorous regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and the demands of real-world maintenance workflows. Our software is specifically designed to integrate SMS into your operations, helping you meet Part 145 standards without adding unnecessary complexity or slowing down your maintenance timelines.

RISE SMS empowers Part 145 repair stations to streamline safety management across the organization. With RISE SMS, your team can:

• Log and track hazard reports directly from the shop floor with mobile-friendly forms and customizable fields, ensuring no hazard goes unnoticed.
  

• Assign and monitor corrective actions with clear accountability and visibility to ensure risks are mitigated in a timely manner.
  

• Create safety communications and distribute them across your operation to reinforce safety protocols and lessons learned.
  

Our platform is built for aviation. This means you can align with both FAA and EASA guidelines and seamlessly integrate your SMS across maintenance, operations, and safety teams. With RISE SMS, your repair station can ensure compliance, improve safety culture, and operate more efficiently, all without the burden of managing complex systems or outdated tools.

Stay Ahead of Expectations — Not Behind Them

Whether you’re working with high-utilization airframes, supporting global operators, or preparing for your next audit, adopting an SMS isn’t just about being ready for the next inspector — it’s about embedding safety into your daily maintenance decisions.

When you build that foundation now, you won’t just meet expectations. You’ll raise them.

Let’s talk about how RISE SMS can help you make that happen. Book a consultation or start your free trial today.