Tetra Tech provided independent safety audits and regulatory compliance monitoring for complex aviation and defence platforms for the Ministry of Defence.
We have broad experience in Independent Safety Auditing in Aviation, with considerable experience in auditing aircraft projects such as C-130J, C-17A, BAe 125, BAe146, and Puma aircraft platforms and Airborne Equipment (parachutes and airdrop equipment).
This auditing project included a Safety Management System audit and document review of safety management plans and safety cases against regulatory requirements. As part of these contracts, we are also often required to audit supplier organisations, including:
- Supplier audit of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine Whole Life Support Programme
- Supplier audit of Selex ES
- Supplier audit of Airbus Helicopters (UK)
- Supplier audit of Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group
Challenge
ShapeFor these contracts the challenge was to provide Independent Safety Audit support to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Project Team, with the purpose of measuring compliance with MoD policy, including DSA01.1, MAA Regulatory Publications, Def Stan 00-56, POSMS, the project Safety and Environmental System (SEMS) and the appropriate procedures and processes. A further challenge in such projects is management of UK airworthiness within the constraints of civil or U.S. airworthiness regulations.
Solution
Having gained knowledge and understanding of the relevant airworthiness and safety practices, the solution was to conduct the following for each platform: reviews of the safety argument and airworthiness strategy and reviews of safety case reports and supporting evidence including the hazard log and loss model; systems-level reviews and audits of the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) and supporting processes and procedures.
This required audits of each project team in the U.S. and the UK. The work also required attendance at two equipment safety reviews, safety panels and integrity working groups for each aircraft platform.
At a glance
Client
Ministry of Defence
Location
UK and U.S.
Services
Independent safety audit, safety assessment, regulatory compliance monitoring
The project featured in this article was undertaken by RPS, A Tetra Tech Company and originally published on RPSgroup.com. In March 2026 RPS rebranded to Tetra Tech.