The Rise of the Fractional Safety Manager in Business Aviation

Business aviation is shifting in a noticeable way. Safety expectations are increasing, regulatory requirements are expanding, and the timeline for compliance is getting tighter. Part 135 operators face the 2027 SMS deadline. Part 91 departments see growing pressure from auditors, insurers, and customers. Flight schools, repair stations, and airports are feeling the same push toward structured safety programs.

This creates a challenge that many operators are not prepared for. They need a dedicated Safety Manager, but a full-time salary is not always realistic. Some departments include only one or two aircraft. Others are growing but still do not have the budget for a standalone safety position.

A new solution is emerging in response. The aviation industry is entering the age of the Fractional Safety Manager.

Why Fractional Safety Managers Are Becoming Essential

A Fractional Safety Manager is an independent safety professional who manages the safety programs of multiple operators at once. They function like a contract Safety Manager who provides ongoing oversight, safety analysis, audits, safety promotion, SMS guidance, and risk management without adding a full-time position to the operator’s payroll.

This model solves a series of problems at once.

• Operators gain consistent safety oversight at a realistic cost.

• Safety managers expand their impact by serving multiple customers.

• Everyone benefits from modern tools that support remote collaboration and data-driven decisions.

As more operators adopt Safety Management Systems, the need for skilled safety leadership will increase. Fractional safety management fills the gap by making professional safety oversight scalable.

How Technology Enables This Career Model

Historically, it was difficult for one safety professional to manage the SMS of several organizations. Reports, assessments, audits, and corrective actions were scattered across spreadsheets, binders, emails, and standalone tools.

RISE SMS changes this.

Fractional Safety Managers can now join the RISE SMS Partner Network and gain access to a dedicated admin portal built specifically for multi-client oversight. It includes:

• A single dashboard to view every organization they support

• One-click access into each customer’s SMS account

• Ability to create and manage reports, assessments, hazards, audits, and safety cases across clients

• Ability to guide operators through SMS implementation and compliance with 14 CFR Part 5

• Configurable forms and workflows that match each customer’s operation

• A reliable way to provide structured oversight, analysis, and documentation for every client

The admin portal makes it easy to switch between operator accounts and provide the same level of safety leadership normally expected from an internal full-time role.

Why Operators Prefer a Fractional Model

For many flight departments, fractional makes sense.

• They gain access to high-level SMS expertise without a full-time salary.

• Their Safety Manager can remain consistent, even when internal staffing changes.

• They receive professional support during audits, investigations, and safety reviews.

• Their SMS stays active instead of stalling due to limited time or resources.

• They benefit from an experienced advisor who works across multiple operations and brings insights from the broader industry.

A fractional arrangement protects the operation by ensuring safety does not lose momentum.

Why Safety Professionals Are Embracing the Fractional Career Path

Fractional work is attractive for aviation safety experts who want independence, flexibility, and control over their workload.

A safety professional can build a book of business, choose the operators they support, and structure their offerings around their strengths. This can include:

• SMS implementation

• Internal audits and evaluations

• Safety risk management and hazard reviews

• Safety promotion and training

• Emergency response planning

• Safety performance monitoring and analysis

• Preparation for customer audits or regulatory reviews

With RISE SMS, they also get the digital infrastructure to manage many clients in one place, which allows them to grow without adding administrative overhead.

A New Era of Safety Leadership

Fractional Safety Managers are becoming an essential part of business aviation. Operators need consistent safety expertise. Safety professionals want flexibility and a scalable way to grow their work. Modern technology is finally making it possible for both sides to succeed.

RISE SMS provides the platform and the network that support this shift. Our goal is to give safety professionals the tools to deliver exceptional service and give operators confidence that their SMS is active, compliant, and improving every day.

For operators, fractional safety management offers reliable, cost-effective safety oversight.For safety professionals, it creates a meaningful and sustainable career path.

This transition is already underway and the momentum is growing.

If you are a safety professional interested in offering fractional services, or an operator looking to hire fractional support, we would like to connect with you.

Reach out to us to learn more or to join the RISE Fractional Safety Manager network.