Bermuda has become the first country to require a safety management system (SMS) for foreign operators of business aircraft landing on the Island, according to a report by Aviation International News Online.

The requirement, which came into effect on Thursday, stipulates the need for an SMS for aircraft with an mtow of more than 12,500 pounds, as well as meeting other requirements under ICAO Annex 6.2.3.

For US operators, this includes both Part 91 and 135 operators.

The reports said that, besides the precedent-setting SMS requirement, affected operators will also need an operations manual, fatigue management programme, MMEL, Type 1A flight data recorder and crew microphone-based communication system. Additionally, aircraft with an mtow exceeding 59,400 pounds are required to have a Type 1 FDR and a cockpit voice recorder.

The Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA) said that IS-BAO registration, Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) registration, Argus rating, Wyvern registration, an SMS manual deemed acceptable by the state of registry or proof of intent to produce an SMS would achieve compliance. For Part 91 operators, this wording leaves IS-BAO the only compliance method since the FAA has yet to establish an SMS NPRM for Part 91, let alone Part 135.

In fact, the FAA earlier this month issued an SMS proposed rule for Part 121 operators. Compliance with the ICAO annex "will be monitored by random ramp inspections at the LF Wade International Airport. Operators discovered to be not compliant will be refused entry to Bermuda until they can demonstrate compliance", the BDCA said.