Final answer:
Airline and MRO Safety Management Systems have seen substantial advancements focusing on the management of safety risks and travel efficiency. Adoption of strategies like the hub-and-spoke design, checklists for operations, and the FAA's pilot rest regulations contributed to the progress. Nevertheless, challenges such as industry mergers have raised competition-related concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Over the past decade, airline and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Safety Management Systems (SMS) have progressed significantly. They've adopted various strategies to enhance safety and efficiency, with the competing pressures from deregulation leading to a significant reduction in airfares, which has increased air travel and industry employment. Aspects such as the hub-and-spoke systems, increased efficiency by having flights take off with more passengers (two-thirds full as opposed to half), have contributed to more people flying. This increase in operations has further necessitated the evolution of SMS for better management of safety risks.
Additionally, the oversight by government safety inspectors has resulted in the continuous improvement of commercial air travel safety. The aviation industry has also seen to the adoption of checklists, like the surgical safety checklist developed by the WHO for medical facilities, to prevent workplace accidents and ensure all essential aircraft equipment is functioning correctly before takeoff. Moreover, regulations such as those imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding mandatory rest periods for pilots have been implemented to prevent fatigue and enhance operational safety.
However, this growth has not been without challenges. A series of mergers in the airline industry has ignited concerns about potential impacts on competition, which may affect consumer choice and market health.